EPC failed – Can’t let it, can’t sell it, can’t pay for the work?

EPC failed – Can’t let it, can’t sell it, can’t pay for the work?

11:07 AM, 15th January 2021, About 4 years ago 17

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Hi, I just had my two flats out of date EPC assessments done and one failed.  The grade was G the lowest on the scale. I have been informed by the assessor that I cannot rent the flat with this low grade, and recommended I change the electric boiler to gas.

We don’t have gas piped to the flats and the gas company said if they could supply the gas pipe it would take over three months and could cost around £1000. The second recommendation was to insulate all inside walls with 50m insulation, I have already installed 25m but this would not count because he can only assess what he can see. The cost of the installation is between £5000 and £8000.

I asked if I can do the insulation myself and save some money the answer was no i have to get a company who can supply a certificate. I can’t get any grants for the work because the tenant has to be on benefits and I don’t have a tenant. I agree this flat requires upgrading, and I’m prepared to do that but the cost for a new boiler and insulation would be £12.000. This would mean no rent for the next two years.

The problem I have can’t let it, can’t sell it, can’t pay for the work. Help!

Brandy


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Judith Wordsworth

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9:56 AM, 17th June 2021, About 4 years ago

Reply to the comment left by Tim Rogers at 15/01/2021 - 18:02
From 2025 all rental property, unless exempt, must be EPC rated C or less

Judith Wordsworth

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10:00 AM, 17th June 2021, About 4 years ago

Reply to the comment left by Tim Rogers at 15/01/2021 - 18:02
From 2025 all rental property, unless exempt, must be EPC rated C or less

Nicholas Ainger

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13:11 PM, 18th June 2021, About 4 years ago

Hi Maurice
The cost cap of £3,500 is the amount you must spend up to to improve the rating. So if you cannot increase the rating to Band E by spending no more than £3,500 you don't have to.
So if you spend, say, £1,000 you don't have to spend the other £2,500 if the next measure would cost you more than that.
If the only measure you can install is going to cost above £3,500 then you do need to evidence that the cheapest measure is a "high-cost" measure and three quotations are required.
So if you can't increase the rating to Band E or above by spending up to £3,500 you must carry out measures that are within that price cap.
Another way to look at it is that if you can insulate a loft for, say, £700, then you must do so. If the next measure you can do is, say, internal wall insulation that costs more than the difference between £3,500 and £700 (£2,800) then you don't have to do so, and neither do you need to evidence it. You exempt it on the register under Regulation 25. If the cheapest measure is above £3,500, you don't have to do anything other than evidence the cost by getting 3 quotations and exempting it under Regulation 24. Here is the link:

https://prsregister.beis.gov.uk/NdsBeisUi/select-landlord-or-agent

The assessor isn't involved and you don't have to consult them unless you want to. The Regulations are yours to adhere to, in terms of exemptions.

As to internal wall insulation, under PAS2030:2019, it is advisable to insulate all areas, because otherwise, you will have thermal-bridging issues where the moist air in your house will condense on the uninsulated walls. You should consult a specialist installer. But I doubt you could insulate for less than £3,500, so you don't have to do so.
I hope that helps.
Kind regards
Nick

Nicholas Ainger

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13:12 PM, 18th June 2021, About 4 years ago

Reply to the comment left by David at 15/01/2021 - 12:25
This is because EPC ratings are based on costs (running costs) rather than carbon.

Nicholas Ainger

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13:16 PM, 18th June 2021, About 4 years ago

Reply to the comment left by Judith Wordsworth at 17/06/2021 - 10:00
This is currently out to consultation. The suggestion is that new tenancies will have to comply with a minimum Band of C from April 2025 and for existing tenancies from April 2028. But the exemption register would still exist although the cost cap is expected to be £10,000, up from £3,500 currently.
I expect the Regulations to be published sooner than later and would recommend waiting for the detail before acting.

Maurice Mcguire

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16:46 PM, 18th June 2021, About 4 years ago

Reply to the comment left by Nicholas Ainger at 18/06/2021 - 13:11
Hi.Thanks for the information it’s very helpful,the only problem is I live in Skegness and can’t get one installer to give me a quote.Thanks again

Nicholas Ainger

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16:49 PM, 18th June 2021, About 4 years ago

If you send me your EPC, or the address so that I can retrieve it, I don't mind having a look to make sure you are going down the right path.
nainger@bierce.co.uk

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