Where will tenants go when EPC work is carried out on properties?

Reply to the comment left by GlanACC at 12/08/2023 - 07:32
This is an interesting point. I have noticed that my new epcs are completely different to the ones I had done over 10 years ago. The old epcs had a list of recommendations and you could pick and choose. However on the new epc it quite clearly says the work has to be done in the order listed on the recommendation report. My most recent epc is even more alarming, the only recommendation is internal and external insulation at an estimated cost. Obviously as it's a flat we can't put external insulation on. It's a very small flat and when I queried how thick the insulation would need to be I was told 10cm. This is a lot to lose in the small rooms. There's only 30cm at the end of the bed at the moment, it would be reduced to 20cm. I am still not convinced that insulating walls is a good idea for a solid brick wall. When we renovated the top floor we came across bricks which had turned to soft material because they were damp for decades. I would be concerned that insulation would hold in the damp.

Reply to the comment left by Andrew57 at 12/08/2023 - 08:25
This is evidence of my point that tenants should not just sit on their hands and expect the world to revolve around them. If a homeowner had work done they would facilitate the builders but tenants think they shouldn't have to do this. It does take longer to do a job when tenants are still living in a property which is why if we had a choice we would do the work when the property is empty. But I still believe tenants should help. One example we have a boiler in a small room which our tenant has used for storage floor to ceiling. When it's time for the gas safety check they never remove stuff to allow access. I have to do it myself despite my age and difficulty with moving heavy items. The tenants are all in there 30's young and fit. Why does it not occur to them that they should give access to the boiler? This kind of tenant mentality needs to be changed.

Reply to the comment left by Slooky at 12/08/2023 - 08:41In many cases it is just not practical to do the upgrades suggested on the EPC. External insulation for example may require the permission of the next door neighbour in semi's and terraced as it affects the guttering and all sorts of things. Internal insulation means changes to floor level and doors. In many cases the upgrades themselves are a reasonable cost but the restoration (decorating, woodwork, putting back the kitchen) are prohibitly expensive, this is a valid reason for an exemption. I am not too worried abour a C rating as long as I can justify what I have done and what is not economically practical (this is allowed). A lot of properties could get away with installing solar and a battery (batteries can go on outside walls) and this will be just under the £10,000 cap

I have the same problems with my BTL EPC ratings below C. I have given notice to ask my tenant to leave, a couple with twins and a mother in law. I just don't want to risk fines for not compliance, and tenants have every rights not to pay for being not compliance. Sorry have to let the family on the street, who can help you if heavy fines fall on the landlord? I will do up the property, get it insulated, disconnect the gas pipe (2nd floor, I better off no gas supply to the flat). And increase rent after all the nice job. Thanks to the government action want to take on landlord and the Rent Reform Bill. I may not want to let to long term tenant as my property is in the high street location. Better off short term let, B&B, Airbnb.

Reply to the comment left by Peter Wood (alias Hawkeye) at 11/08/2023 - 12:29
It's in the proposed legislation. I brought this up many months ago.

2030/35 for owner occupied homes, and 2030 for lenders not to lend on properties outside of the A-C band. Though some lenders are already doing this!

Reply to the comment left by Slooky at 12/08/2023 - 08:50
Typical lazy tenants.
Next time tell them at least 2 weeks before, they need to move stuff as you don't want to be liable for any damage caused to their belongings if you move it. Tell them if the person turns up and it's not accessible he will have to return and the additional cost will be passed onto them. Remind them of this 3 days before. I bet they will move it quick!

Reply to the comment left by Peter Wood (alias Hawkeye) at 11/08/2023 - 12:29
Riots bigger than the poll tax riots if that happens.

Good luck finding alternative accommodation.

All the hotels will be booked out with illegal migrants.

This country is headed for chaos and its all deliberate

Reply to the comment left by GlanACC at 12/08/2023 - 08:56
Yes we can't do external insulation because our properties are flats however we assumed internal insulation would only be required on external walls. They have not indicated floor insulation is required so no need to alter floors. There's no doors on the outside walls as it's a flat. If you're lucky enough not to have a kitchen on an out side wall then maybe it's not such a bad job. However only one of my flats does not have a kitchen on an outside wall and all bathrooms are on an outside wall. We also have intricate cornice work so the internal insulation would harm that. We have considered doing internal insulation in the flats where the cornice is missing but we are then concerned that you can't just do one outside wall because you would create cold spots. It would also mean redesigning a kitchen because if the kitchen has to be narrower it would mean replacing a unit with a smaller one and 2 of our kitchens are only 5 years old and one of them is discontinued. Hot on the heels of 2 major flat refurbishments it is not something we would consider in those 2 flats. I'm not even sure we've made our money back yet.

Reply to the comment left by Judith Wordsworth at 12/08/2023 - 11:57
Thanks for that, Judith. l was not aware of this and the dates. Probably no hoo haaa in the media a bout how it effects homeowners until so much nearer the time.