Surely I am not the only landlord worried about new EPC requirements?

Surely I am not the only landlord worried about new EPC requirements?

9:44 AM, 17th February 2021, About 4 years ago 154

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Hello, I was wondering if Property118 could shed some light on the new proposed changes to the EPC requirements – my understanding is that over the next few years 2025 onwards, properties in the PRS have to be rated a C as a minimum. Currently, has to be above an E.

My worry is that the government seems to be applying this rule to all properties regardless of age, although I think it may be different if it is listed. It is not difficult for a new property to meet the requirements of a C or about.

However, as the owner of several Victorian terraces, it is much more difficult if not impossible to get this rating. For example, we do not have cavity walls. I have done all the usual things like loft insulation, double glazing, energy-efficient boilers etc etc but other suggested improvements seem to be a lot of outlay for very little impact on the EPC.

For example, I think the only improvement that has been suggested is using solar panels, but the property is not suitable for solar panels.  I am concerned that I may not be able to meet the new requirements despite my best efforts.

Surely I am not the only landlord who is worried about this?

Is there a campaign to ask for property age to be taken into consideration?

Thank you

Su


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Scoobs

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16:18 PM, 17th February 2021, About 4 years ago

Reply to the comment left by margarita delaorden at 17/02/2021 - 10:24
This has happened to me too. Its to do with the way the energy efficiency is assessed. I think there needs to be a campaign to address this !

Paul Stephenson CEng

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16:21 PM, 17th February 2021, About 4 years ago

Reply to the comment left by margarita delaorden at 17/02/2021 - 10:24
Hi - just joined this site. I specialise in this kind of area - could I ask how you managed to meet Part L on new flats with just electric heating? Was is heat pumps or just standard heating?

Denise G

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16:23 PM, 17th February 2021, About 4 years ago

Reply to the comment left by AniB at 17/02/2021 - 15:39
do you have a link please to the petition?

Scoobs

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16:29 PM, 17th February 2021, About 4 years ago

Reply to the comment left by Denise G at 17/02/2021 - 16:23
Liz Buckland posted a link and I have just signed it. Thanks Liz

Here is it
https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/559700
I wonder if we should all encourage our tenants to sign as they could be homeless if landlords find it unaffordable to make these changes and sell up or go bust.

Nigel Green

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17:25 PM, 17th February 2021, About 4 years ago

I have just finished a refurbishment of an 1870's house with 225mm solid walls with a 25mm cavity brick built double story rear extension.

I have added a ground floor & loft extension. I have insulated all internal walls with 30mm PIR insulation & external 120mm rockwall insulation, & added a internal air membrane.

I have taken the EPC from a D to a top end B. The market is moving to more energy efficient housing & highly insulated house will cost less to heat & more profit as I rent as a HMO. Oh, forgot to mention that I removed all the double glazing & installed triple glazed windows & roof lights.

The whole project has taken a year so lost of rent in that time but we'll worth the effort. Its time to upgrade your housing stock so energy efficient & stop complaining, because if you provided sustainable housing the government would not need to legislate. I will only see my rents rise in the future......

John

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17:43 PM, 17th February 2021, About 4 years ago

Reply to the comment left by Nigel Green at 17/02/2021 - 17:25
But you have done a conversion. You havent done this due to regulations. This work would be done anyway. Effectively you have produced a part new build property. Yes it is easy to get the insulation done when doing it like this. Its not a fair comparison to what LL's as a whole have got to do. I'm about to renovate some flats, so its a no brainer for me to ensure the levels of insulation meet much higher targets.

Mike

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17:45 PM, 17th February 2021, About 4 years ago

I see little point in spending stupid amount of money on insulating houses when sooner or later these houses would submerge in floods, its already too late for some, forget about seas rising, our lands can't even cope with heavy rain fall and drainage problems, so what is the point of having insulation???? EPC think tank gone completely mad.

May be we can stick a wind generator and solar panels through our roof too. Already we got plenty of ugly flue stacks that are redundant, why not stick a small wind generator that may look more pleasant

Denise G

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17:51 PM, 17th February 2021, About 4 years ago

Reply to the comment left by Nigel Green at 17/02/2021 - 17:25
oh aren't you a clever boy!

TheMaluka

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18:06 PM, 17th February 2021, About 4 years ago

Reply to the comment left by Nigel Green at 17/02/2021 - 17:25
Just wait until you have a tenant that trashes all your hard work. If it isn't made of solid concrete sooner or later a tenant will trash it, and even concrete can be trashed with a little effort. I know for I have been a victim of such behaviour.

Nigel Green

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18:45 PM, 17th February 2021, About 4 years ago

Reply to the comment left by John at 17/02/2021 - 17:43
Evening John, I have done this to exceed building regulations in preparation for government legislation & to help reduce C02 emissions.

Internal & external insulation is fairly straight forward to install. It's the lost of room area you need to watch.

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