How can I get my EPC from E to C?

Reply to the comment left by Russell Cartner at 20/08/2023 - 15:29
I also have reservations about CWI not just because the exterior wall and cavity are what helps stop damp getting in, but also because in an older property the cavity and the ventilation bricks are what help moisture get out.

Reply to the comment left by Beaver at 22/08/2023 - 17:33
My semi det house is EPC Band D, as are all the houses on this 1970's estate.
(The UK average is D)
It has GCH, Tvr's Double glazed, Insulated loft and LED lights.
To reach Band C Cavity fill (bad idea) or Solar £10,000 no chance.
It will be sold before 2028

Reply to the comment left by Russell Cartner at 22/08/2023 - 18:43
My BTL property is also band D. I'm also concerned about CWI....I think it's a bad idea to fill a gap designed to keep damp and allow damp to get out. So when you say OR are you saying you can fit solar panels as an *alternative* to CWI and that will definitely get you to Band C? Whenever I've enquired about grants it's always a no unless I'm prepared to put CWI in.

Reply to the comment left by Philip Sandham at 10/08/2023 - 06:20
My assessor would accept photos. He is quite fussy about the details of the photos and would expect them to be done in a certain way. The other option would be to expose the work after it's finished. I have never had to do this but again it would need to be done a certain way. I think he said if this would be required he would want to see the depth of the insulation exposed in a 100mm by 100mm hole. Obviously not ideal as this would require making good again .

There seems to be so much variation in what these assessors say, it's seems it's always worth speaking to a few of them until you get answers you like.

Some will do a 'dry run ' assessment without recording the result so you can better judge how best to approach the works.

Reply to the comment left by Beaver at 23/08/2023 - 14:33
Only option left Solar panels, so will be selling come 2025/28 as not paying £10,000 out

Reply to the comment left by Russell Cartner at 24/08/2023 - 15:16
Fair enough. In my case I might consider solar panels if I didn't have to go for CWI but it's hard to get any reliable answers out of EPC assessors.

Reply to the comment left by Beaver at 24/08/2023 - 15:20
You can insulate the inner walls but where do the tenants go

Reply to the comment left by Russell Cartner at 24/08/2023 - 15:31
So my assumption is that if the government continues to insist that I must upgrade my property from D to C then I:

- Kick the present tenants out because the nature of the work is so disruptive that it cannot be done whilst they are in
- Do the work
- Put new tenants back in at a much higher rent

The rent would need to be very much higher because the costs are not deductible against revenue expenditure. It's capital expenditure that must be finance at increasing interest rates. It's unlikely that any tenant in my property would be eligible for a grant to upgrade but in reality the grants wouldn't be accessible during the void period anyway.

So basically upgrade from D to C = homeless tenant and enormous increase in rent.

Reply to the comment left by Contango at 20/08/2023 - 13:04
I agree. There will be some properties that are doomed - low rental value and big upgrades needed, but that's not the majority. I think a lot of people are going wrong buy going of what the recommendations on the EPC say - this is not a basis for planning expensive work. You need to research and work with a decent assessor who can advise the best approach. Unfortunately, these are hard to find.

e.g. stories of spending 12k to stay on the same grade highlight this. Its not the LL fault, a LL with one or two properties shouldn't be expected to be an expert. What's needed is a service where proper advice can be obtained.

Reply to the comment left by Castle at 24/08/2023 - 16:32
The other consideration is that any work you do now may not count towards the maximum amount that you are obliged to spend whenever you are eventually obliged to spend it. So you could spend money doing the easy things now only to find that you have no option but to either do the more difficult and disruptive things later, or sell.

Best option is to do nothing until you know what you have to do, if it's disruptive get rid of the tenant then either sell or do the work and re-let at a much higher rent. Unless that is the government changes the tax system and introduces some clarity over what it is that you are going to need to do.