The EPC Maze?

The EPC Maze?

6:45 AM, 25th March 2022, About 3 years ago 22

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The EPC on a top floor flat has recently been downgraded from an F to a G with a score of just 19!

The three suggestions for improving that score are :
1. Increase loft insulation to 270 mm at a cost of £100 to £350 (Score 24 i.e. F)
2. Internal or external wall insulation at a cost of £4000 to £14000 (Score 31 i.e.F)
3. High heat retention storage heaters at a cost of £800 to £1200 (Score 68 D)

So even the first two steps would only get the rating up to an F and would cost more than the cap of £3500 (inc vat).

I know I could do step one and then apply for an exemption, but I would much prefer to get the flat as energy-efficient as possible. Is the set and sequence of steps set out in the certificate the only one possible or might I be able to find someone who could come up with a more realistic and more effective set of measures?

Having looked at the storage heaters option, the size and layout of the flat means this does not work.

Any advice would be much appreciated.

Bridget


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Reluctant Landlord

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16:56 PM, 30th March 2022, About 3 years ago

Reply to the comment left by Seething Landlord at 28/03/2022 - 15:27
could not agree more

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17:16 PM, 30th March 2022, About 3 years ago

Reply to the comment left by Luke P at 30/03/2022 - 12:54
that's the whole point - if one assessor gets grilled to properly qualify his findings then he is going to expect if from another LL who calls him/her after.

With the move to C most LL's are going to be looking to squeeze as many points as possible to get their EPC over this line so will be taking more of an interest and asking more questions before and during an assessement.

Of the assessors I have used in the last 9 months, I have made each of them qualify practically every point and as a result they are now more in tune with the reality of the job they do and the impact that the results they produce actually have. Now instead of just farming out a C/D/E rating at the end, they go in with an understanding (from me) of what I want to achieve and what I have done so far to achieve this. Their report is to reflect the snapshot in time what the position lies therefore AND with a proper view of improvement going forward and I insist this has to be a close as possibly aligned to the specifics of the building they are looking at. If that means some real justification when determining the best box to tick (whereas before they would just default a tick) then so be it.

All have come back to me for subsequent EPC when called. At the end of the day work is work and if I don't call them I will call someone else.

I know this is SUPPOSED to be what the EPC is all about, but lets face it everyone in the process has paid lip service to it until now (when there is a need to get it over a C where possible for a LL)

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