Recently bought property with EPC rating D?

Uncertainty.I am loathe to spend money, then find it still doesn’t meet the minimum EPC and the assessor is long gone.How long will it take to recoup £10k spent on this when a new kitchen or bathroom is more likely to increase your rent.
Sell and you might make a capital loss to set against future gains and compensate for the massive reduction in CGT allowances by this wonderful government.

Reply to the comment left by Judith Wordsworth at 05/04/2023 – 12:32
I know you a right but battling with my morals here when you have a good long term happy elderly resident in situ do i have 5 years to 2028, or could the govt push the date back further, reduce the £10k limit, or give up to prevent a mad exodus. Its not a standard B2L so better as a private vacant sale when it comes.

Like others, I have found the EPC mark varies from one assessment to another for identical properties. That means one assessor’s C is another’s D and vice versa. That has pretty severe consequences once the legislation kicks in. Also, even though it will specify a C for renting, it seems to me there is nothing to prevent government changing the software or the algorithm so that a C today becomes a D tomorrow: A minefield for landlords. I would expect the measure to mean a reduction in rental property and increased pressure on the remaining rental stock.

I wouldn’t rush to make the changes you’ve listed. Gove has admitted the government has to look at the assessment scheme again, and having delayed once they could do so again – or reduce the required rating to D.

Unless your current report shows high scores for all the existing measures, there should be scope to make other less expensive changes that will improve your rating.

Unless there is a really cheap modification to get a rental property to a C it is probably best to wait. There might actually be grants available to landlords and any work that has already been paid for won’t qualify. Owner occupier’s with D rated properties are not rushing to upgrade to a C as they have worked out that the energy savings to be made relate to paybacks of a decade or more. It looks like the requirement for all new tenancies to comply from 2025 is already being watered down to 2028 when all tenancies must comply. I hope the Government realise that the tenants with the cheapest rents live in the older houses that will cost the most to upgrade. When Landlords are faced with the loss of a couple of years net rent to upgrade these properties they will just sell up and who could blame them?

I am qualified, experienced DOMESTIC EPC ASSESSOR.
Happy to help to those, on how to achieve Rating “C”.

Minor things score points
LED lights
Trvs on rads
Double glazing
Modern boiler condensing boiler (okay not so minor)
Room thermostats/ smart thermostats
Extra loft insulation>270mm
If the boiler is system make it combi (okay not so minor)
If there is a hot water tank, put another jacket on
I have used a combination of these and it has shifted stubborn ‘D’ properties.

EPCs are not fit for purpose: how is anyone supposed to make judgements about the cost-benefits of major investments like solar panels, ASHPs or external wall insulation when the final document that assesses their value is such a tick-box document based on a 20-30 minute “survey”? The points system is also utterly stupid – it’s not even based on a house’s carbon costs and privileges gas over electricity, which is why many people find that when they install an air source heat pump, their EPC rating actually gets worse.

Reply to the comment left by Nirav Thakkar at 05/04/2023 – 22:14
@Nirav. My D says Solar or underfloor both of which are unattainable.

As a DEA are you allowed to assess family and friends property or in fact your own BTL?

Reply to the comment left by Jakjak at 07/04/2023 – 06:33@Jakjak
From my understanding – Yes, assessors are allowed to assess family/friends and own properties as long as they declare before the lodgement – as RELATED PARTY DISCLOSURE.