How can I get my EPC from E to C?

How can I get my EPC from E to C?

0:01 AM, 8th August 2023, About 9 months ago 98

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Hello, I own a 1900 solid brick small workers’ cottage. It’s been fully renovated, new roof, new DG and electric heaters with no mains gas. My EPC is currently an E.

I ask the assessor if I put in mains gas central heating how many points would my EPC increase by. He said he couldn’t tell me!!!! So I am now wondering if the assessor doesn’t have a clue, then how are we, the public meant to?!

What’s the point of doing any upgrades if I cannot get a guaranteed EPC C rating? Will most of the houses in the country predating 1900 ever get to a C without having to spend £30k min. Looks like I’m offloading the house if I can’t find any assured answers from officials.

Any suggestions greatly appreciated,

Helen


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Comments

Contango

12:28 PM, 17th August 2023, About 9 months ago

Reply to the comment left by Beaver at 17/08/2023 - 12:26
The RRB is not yet law, so too early to worry about it

Russell Cartner

13:28 PM, 17th August 2023, About 9 months ago

The Government are absolutely not going to help you
So pretty simple really, its not going to reach Band C without an awful lot of money bring spent on it. So cough up or sell it, which would be the sensible thing to do

Beaver

17:00 PM, 18th August 2023, About 9 months ago

Reply to the comment left by Contango at 17/08/2023 - 12:28Perhaps it is. But the truth is that many of us have properties that we could make changes to that would improve things but these either don't affect the EPC or they don't make any difference to emissions and so whichever way you look at it they are unnecessary expense. And if you did them now they might not count towards the spending limit that you are obliged to cough up in order to improve your property. So again, no reason to do anything now.
I think there is growing recognition that a reasonable summary of the EPC system as it presently stands would be "garbage in...garbage out." But at some point somebody somewhere will probably change it and when they do I hope they have the wit to understand that if putting in cavity wall insulation either causes a bigger problem, or makes no significant difference that shouldn't be a barrier to doing anything else, and that putting a porch on should probably count towards your EPC improvement because tenants don't live on the Star Trek Enterprise and they cannot teleport in or out of the building, with or without the cat.

Russell Cartner

17:10 PM, 18th August 2023, About 9 months ago

Reply to the comment left by Beaver at 18/08/2023 - 17:00
If you have Band D, which is the UK average only cavity fill (bad idea) or Solar will bring you to C. The Goverment, Loony Left Shelter and Generation Rent are out to stuff you
PRS is finished, which is why Landlords are leaving in droves

Philip Sandham

19:17 PM, 18th August 2023, About 9 months ago

Reply to the comment left by Russell Cartner at 18/08/2023 - 17:10
Just received my monies from my solicitor for the sale of my 3 bedroom house that has been rented out for the past 30 years.
Thank goodness I am out of this.
House was band D spent £12000 to upgrade and still it was band D

Russell Cartner

20:03 PM, 18th August 2023, About 9 months ago

You were obviously badly advised
The thing is the UK average EPC is Band D which requires Cavity fill (not good) or solar power to get to C. Why would anyone in this present climate spend that kind of money and whats more E, F and G are not even worth contemplating.
PRS is stuffed best out

Contango

13:04 PM, 20th August 2023, About 9 months ago

Maybe I am an incurable optimist bit we have managed a lot of e grades over the line to c. Yes it costs a lot of money but once its done, its done. We have been in this business for many decades and aren't going to be knocked out by this

Russell Cartner

13:34 PM, 20th August 2023, About 9 months ago

Reply to the comment left by Contango at 20/08/2023 - 13:04
Incurable optimist is about right.
I have no idea why a Landlord would either want to or could afford to upgrade to EPC Band C from E, F, G is Extremely Expensive
Even D (the UK average) to C is Very Expensive and it would be Cavity fill (bad idea) or Solar.
Sell Sell Sell before Sec 21 is taken off you by The Government, Looney Left Shelter and Generation Rent

Contango

15:11 PM, 20th August 2023, About 9 months ago

Reply to the comment left by Russell Cartner at 20/08/2023 - 13:34thermobead insulation is okay glass fibre fluff is a disaster. Why are we staying in the game? We are taking a very long term view It is probable that values will sink back a bit short term but long term real estate tends to be a good investment, Inflation is likely to bedevil any cash based investments whereas rents rise broadly with wages. We have been in the business (more than sixty years) so long that annual income equates to cost price, albeit not in real terms. We have not bought much since the last crash and believe that investors in property make their money when they buy well. All of those who are playing with the Bank's money should mind their eye. I've seen three big crashes in my time. I don't think this one will be as bad as 91/ 92 however there is clearly a significant shake out of loose and heavily indebted holders of real estate. Keep some liquidity for the unexpected. If stuck sell tenanted at auction.

Russell Cartner

15:29 PM, 20th August 2023, About 9 months ago

Reply to the comment left by Contango at 20/08/2023 - 15:11
Wet Outer wall - Cavity- Dry Inner wall
The Cavity stops damp transferring to the inner wall and prevents mould forming
I had a cavity wall tile failure on a new build from concrete stuck on a wall tie over the drip point. Filling the gap is bad and when it goes wrong it goes wrong in a bad way because you can't remove it.
Only a salesman would support it

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