Level C on EPC £££

Level C on EPC £££

17:02 PM, 27th December 2022, About 2 years ago 23

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Do most landlords realise the impact of the cost to get to a level C EPC if this becomes legislated as a requirement?

We have a property that was fully renovated 5 years ago to full building regs. It had 100mm insulation added in the floor and ceiling, 50mm insulation in the walls and fully double glazed etc etc.

We needed a new EPC to be carried out last week and it only achieved an E rating!

The cost of the renovation was just a fraction under £100,000 all in. If a property is older build it will not get anywhere near a C rating we would suggest.

Who is going to do all the work required on all the properties?

There are not enough workmen available at the moment and the cost will become unviable to keep a lot as rentals.

Charles


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NewYorkie

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11:22 AM, 28th December 2022, About 2 years ago

I spent £140k extending and refurbishing my house, but didn't want to replace my 1920s windows. So, double glazing and heavy insulation in the loft extension and rear extension, new heating and hot water system, new rads... But, I know it still wouldn't reach EPC C. It's part of the reason why I won't be putting it on the rental market, despite a huge demand. I was considering holiday letting, but that is now looking unattractive. Maybe, now I've retired, property is no longer my investment of choice. Leave it to the big boys, and let tenants take their chances.

Chris Bradley

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12:03 PM, 28th December 2022, About 2 years ago

Does your EPC say that they can't include the insulation they can't see?? I had photos to prove insulation and my EPC went up

Harry Chunk

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12:50 PM, 28th December 2022, About 2 years ago

Well you haven’t said whether it is a house or a flat. I assume from the cost it must be a house. Well Charles get up in the loft and make the insulation in the loft 300mm. Next time the place is vacant find a carpenter a plumber an electrician and a plasterer or a multi skilled man. Line all the external walls with 50mm Celotex and re plaster. The plumber and the electrician can sort out the sockets and radiators. Loft insulation will get it to a D, wall insulation will get it to C according to my lady who does my EPCs. I am assuming it has low energy light bulbs and A rated boiler. Harry

NewYorkie

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15:28 PM, 28th December 2022, About 2 years ago

Reply to the comment left by Harry Chunk at 28/12/2022 - 12:50
I guess that will be a fair chunk of cash, even assuming you can find all the trades at the same time to do the work, timed for the exact dates it is next vacant [unlikely!].

Hopefully, this EPC C nonsense will be kicked into the long grass.

Rod

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17:02 PM, 28th December 2022, About 2 years ago

Don't forget

A) MEES requirement for EPC of C is preferred option, but government has yet to confirm
https://ihowz.uk/the-anticipated-standards-for-the-minimum-energy-efficiency-standards-mees/

B) EPC methodology will change as focus moves from lower cost natural gas to low carbon solutions

C) You should notify EPC assessor of previous works (with supporting evidence) and make them aware of any restrictions, such as lease terms, conservation area or listed building to exclude these recommendations

D) If the EPC has no further recommendations, the payback period is longer than 7 years, or your expenditure exceeds the cap, you can claim a 5 year exemption.

I recently had a pre-planning meeting for a flat which we had spent £65,000 remodelling, including swap to all LED lighting, heating system upgrade and serviced original sash windows.
The council confirmed that they would not permit double glazing (even conservation glass) or heat pumps. Also, no solar panels.
It's mid-floor so has EPC of C but had it been on an upper or lower floor or end unit it would have been a D or E and internal insulation of walls would take me over the cost threshold and reduce at least one room below minimum room size, so qualify for exemption.

NewYorkie

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17:55 PM, 28th December 2022, About 2 years ago

Reply to the comment left by Rod at 28/12/2022 - 17:02
Really don't need the hassle! Easier ways to make a profit. I'm not alone!

Ian Simpson

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7:12 AM, 31st December 2022, About 2 years ago

One wonders, should the legislation actually be enacted (which I doubt) how it would work in practice...? For example, we have long term tenants in a three bed semi, EPC E, which would need them to move out for six months to enable necessary works to be done. If they refuse to comply (which they will), then what...? Just a big fine for the landlord I suppose...? How often does the fine get applied..? Monthly?Annually...?
Then who is the policing authority...? Councils? or central Govt? How would they get access to EPC records, or even know a tenancy existed, if this was not done through an estate agent...? Are agents allowed to pass on all details of tenancies to Councils/govt under current GDPR rules...?
So if the tenants have to move into a hotel for three-six months for EPC improvement works to be done, what happens when the resultant EPC is a D ..? Do they just stay on in the hotel forever...? At Landlord's expense OF COURSE...??
I just cannot see how this policy would ever work in practice....

robert fisher

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7:38 AM, 31st December 2022, About 2 years ago

Charles , i would get a comparable EPC from another assessor. My experience of upgrading a Victorian terrace (June 2021) from an E to a C rating was pretty simple. New A rated boiler, Rad stats and a hard wired room thermostat,low energy lightbulbs and 150mm of loft insulation was all that was needed. Cost me around £4000. Speak to the assessor before hand , i asked what would be required based on my old EPC (E rated) to get an upgrade , did what he advised then gained a C on inspection.

Laura Delow

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7:46 AM, 31st December 2022, About 2 years ago

Very important to note is that any expenditure prior to April 2023 to improve the EPC rating to a C will only count towards the current £3500 cap. It will not count towards the new £10K cap on registering an exemption unless the expenditure is after April 2023.

John Docherty

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13:03 PM, 31st December 2022, About 2 years ago

Reply to the comment left by Chris Bradley at 28/12/2022 - 12:03
100% this. Just did a refurb on a flat but because the assessor couldn't inspect the insulation in the walls we got a D with a recommendation to install insulation ...... we'll worry about a destructive survey some other day, tenant is happy in their toasty warm refurbed flat 🙂

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