Flats comply with Building Regs but still EPC D and E!

Hi Peter
The assessor should be able to advise you best as they have your properties specific data to hand. The recommendations on the certificate should also help.
In general properties with only electric heating can struggle unless very well Insulated throughout. The epc system will automatically recommend high heat retention storage heaters as these will give the best possible result for electric heating. Bear in mind they will need a dual rate tariff meter. Solar panels will definitely improve a property, but not always enough to take to the next rating level. In most cases changing one existing heater in the main living space to hhr storage heater will be sufficient to improve your rating. For more info look me up. http://www.epcmedway.net

The same happened to me on a recently completed development of 9 flats. I doubled the insulation over that specified by the architect and still got a mixture of C and D ratings.
The problem is when you go electric only. I used state of the art infra-red heaters on the ceilings made by a German company which were thermostatic and wi-fi controlled. I could have improved the rating by fitting a gas boiler (not an option for various reasons) or electric storage heaters, even some oil boilers would give me a better score!!!!

Utterly insane.

It depends on the potential rating though, I was advised that a ‘D’ would be fine even with the previous EPC ‘C’ deadline looming as the potential rating was no higher than the actual rating, giving an exemption to the requirements of a ‘C’. That’s what I was told by the company who worked out all the SAP values.

why doesn’t compliance with Building Regs in 2020 automatically result in an EPC C rating?

Because the rating system is a joke, outdated and not fit for purpose. One of many examples of the left hand not knowing or caring what the right is doing.

Reply to the comment left by Seething Landlord at 04/10/2023 – 13:50
I have to disagree. Building regs do not specify what type of heating system you use. The heating system itself, and the efficiency of that – including the type of fuel used – have a major impact on the epc rating achieved. Epcs are aimed at reducing carbon footprint and fuel bills; look at it from this perspective and it makes a lot more sense. It is not a perfect system by a long way but it is the one we have to work with. I would always recommend getting some advice from an epc assessor (a good one) at the beginning of a development to ensure that you get the result you need at the end.

Reply to the comment left by Bill Clark at 04/10/2023 – 13:59
EPCs are concerned only with assumed heating costs and are distorted by the artificial cost disparity between gas and electricity. Nothing to do with carbon footprint. Government have admitted that the system is not fit for purpose, which is possibly one of the main reasons for their abandoning the proposal for rental properties to achieve band C.

EPC’s A – E are still mortgageable ?

Full system disjointed and not fit for purpose like the majority of mps we have . Get a grip.

The correct answer is if you have a building regulation certificate from 2020 then they are exempt from an EPC for 10 years, you shouldn’t have had a certificate done

Reply to the comment left by Bill Clark at 04/10/2023 – 13:59
Bill Clark is right. I would add that the ground floor, roof and external walls to all flats should have been upgrades. Also at least one electric heater usually the living room should be storage heaters. With these measures flats should reach C and above.
Who did your Building control? Was it an approved inspector?

Reply to the comment left by Robert Johnson at 05/10/2023 – 08:59
Hi Robert,
Thanks for your input.
Please can you explain where this 10 year exclusion is described in legislation / guidance; this is the first time that I have heard it mentioned.
Best Regards
Peter