How can I get my EPC from E to C?

Reply to the comment left by Russell Cartner at 24/08/2023 – 18:27Ive managed to go from from Fs and Gs to Cs. We have one house let to a sitting tenant that was assessed amazingly enough as G – 1 ! The tenant did not want energy improvements and has rejected all overtures.When her old gas water heater broke she very reluctantly agreed to have a new boiler with one radiator only to be fitted in the hallway. Tough old bird!

It is a moot point whether there needs to be EPCs where tenants have security of tenure. Possibly not but we have had them all assessed nonetheless. If a tenant refuses consent for energy improvements in writing an exemption will be granted, valid for five years

Reply to the comment left by Beaver at 24/08/2023 – 16:46
If the Conservatives don’t do it then Labour will. Net Zero is the Wholy Grail
Just because it’s not feasable doesn t stop Governments are Pro tenant Anti Landlord
I am selling come 2025/28

Reply to the comment left by Contango at 24/08/2023 – 18:33
At what cost and how long to make the money back. You must have spent an awful lot. Money spent is profit lost

Reply to the comment left by Contango at 24/08/2023 – 17:01
Like the majority of landlords I’m not a large multi-owner landlord.

Convert letting to AirBNB or are they under same levelling up plans?

Reply to the comment left by Pete England – PaTMa Property Management at 24/08/2023 – 19:25
I don’t believe so as it’s not let on an assured tendency, regulated tenancy or agricultural tenancy so it’s not a relevant tenancy for the purposes of the regulations but I am not sure about that and don’t know what’s in the new regulations but as the government seem to be against all property owners they might bring them into scope too.

Reply to the comment left by Castle at 24/08/2023 – 21:58The way to look at this in my humble opinion is not how it impacts cash flow this year last year or next year but how it improves the letting proposition in the long run.
Significantly improving thermal performance should be viewed as deepening the investment not digging into the profit.

Reply to the comment left by Contango at 24/08/2023 – 22:59
Improving a property is a good thing, so long as the money you invest puts the price of the house up by that amount. This very rarely happens. Say its £10,000 but you can’t put the rent up by that amount over a year. Over 10 years you can charge an extra £20 a week.
So you have put the rent up to cover the loan whilst not making any more money

Reply to the comment left by Castle at 24/08/2023 – 17:12
If you cant afford to thermally upgrade, it probably is the right decision to cash out now

Reply to the comment left by Contango at 25/08/2023 – 09:26
The situation is different for large, incorporated landlords with lots of properties. The majority of landlords (like me) have a small portfolio.

The improvements I made to my band D property in 2015 don’t count even though they significantly reduced heat loss. The expense I incurred in 2015 wouldn’t count towards any maximum I was obliged to spend now. Anything I spent in 2022, or spent now in 2023 might not count in 2028 either. So my best option is do nothing then get rid of the tenants when I am obliged to do something.

This week I was chatting to a close friend who is just about to become an accidental landlord (inheritance) and is considering renting the property out, or possibly selling. He was thinking about doing some maintenance but I advised him to do nothing until he had spoken to an EPC assessor. The property may be at Band C or just short of it. If he decides to sell my advice would be do the absolute minimum to reach Band C (which I suspect is probably increasing the depth of insulation in the loft) simply to ensure that whoever buys the property has a greater choice of lenders at a time when choice of lenders could be an issue.

There’s no problem increasing the depth of insulation in the loft whilst tenants are out, or even whilst they are in. If the expense in getting his property from D to C was high he’d be better off doing nothing now.

If he decides to rent his best option is probably to do nothing. The estate agent he has spoken to has advised him to do the absolute minimum because it is rentable as it is. He can still do nothing, rent the property out then sell it if and when he’s obliged to sell.

For most landlords there is no incentive in the system to do anything about improving EPCS. In fact, many landlords may well be penalised for doing it.