Trying to raise my EPC rating as tenants moving out?

Trying to raise my EPC rating as tenants moving out?

10:44 AM, 27th March 2019, About 5 years ago 50

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I’m a small landlord with 2 properties, one of which has a very low EPC (it was an F last time). It has storage heaters and I’ve been told even replacing them with more modern ones, may not change this.

It’s a 2 bed, spacious, airy and light 1st floor flat, above a pizza restaurant. I have a long lease, but not the freehold. It doesn’t have gas, and I have standard storage heaters, but now I have to try and raise my EPC as the tenants are moving out, and I need to attract new ones.

There are conflicting articles on Google; some say the newer storage heaters and controls will raise the EPC, others say it won’t make any difference, and that Economy 7 is being fazed out with coal stations, so not worth the outlay?

It would be too expensive to try and bring in gas, and probably complicated as I don’t own the freehold?

Does anyone have any advice as to improve my place please.

Marisa Mann


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Comments

mary

9:58 AM, 29th March 2019, About 5 years ago

Reply to the comment left by Manni at 28/03/2019 - 23:10
Yes, thanks

Mike

12:11 PM, 29th March 2019, About 5 years ago

by the way, economy 7 heating isn't a great deal cheaper either, they may offer a reduced rate of electricity for just a few hours during night, but then your day rate is higher than standard rate, whats the point of fooling the public? higher standing charges as well, the phrase "there is no free lunch" is true in all cases.you might save very little and it is not worth the hassle .
OP Try and install some sort of heat recovery system from the pizza parlour's extractor flue below your flat, their flue must be extracting tons of heat to waste, so why not use that heat to heat your flat for free! Get an A rating. You may be allowed to do that if you came to some arrangement with the shop owners, and pay them a fixed cost per year, and supplement your flat with quick to heat fan heaters, they are ever so efficient and quick to heat the flat because like fan assisted ovens, they don't accumulate heat towards the the top of the room near ceilings, but circulate even heat throughout the room,. this is pure science, and common sense, wet central heating radiators just waste most heat concentrating towards the ceiling, whilst keeping the floor levels at 2 to 3 degrees cooler, fan heaters can save money. Hot air rises, law of physics, convection heating as it is called and radiates little sideways. Even using a thin layer of insulating material on internal walls under the wall paper can help a great deal, but EPC certifiers don't check what insulation you have.

mary

12:49 PM, 29th March 2019, About 5 years ago

Reply to the comment left by Mike at 29/03/2019 - 12:11
Hi,
That's a great idea

JohnCaversham

14:23 PM, 29th March 2019, About 5 years ago

Just done exactly this on one of my all electric flats and managed to quiz the EPC surveyor at length.
1. Newer storage rads will not increase your EPC banding-high heat retention storage heaters that are new to the market will but they are £600plus each..!
2. 80mm lagging to your immersion cylinder PLUS an off peak timer with a boost function (Hortsman do one) to give proper control of water heating, this will lift you a band.
3. Secondary glazing or shutters do NOT increase the banding! Yes i was surprised when he told me that too!
4. If you are undertaking any thermal insulation upgrades ie battening off and adding 50mm of insulation to the walls etc ask (re pay) your EPC surveyor to come out photo and log the work as opposed to building regs for proof, otherwise you won't get a banding upgrade (without formal documented proof EPC visit £60, building regs app £250!)
5. Some EPC companies have a service where they will provide you with a list of upgrades that will get you to next level based on your property as opposed to a generic list of exspensive stabs in the dark. - Eg, I was going to change my storage heaters for new ones then he worked out that if i added more lagging to the HW cylinder and a programmer we could get to an F...Job done.

mary

14:55 PM, 29th March 2019, About 5 years ago

Thank-you, I'm getting quite an education in energy efficiency!

Michael Barnes

0:07 AM, 30th March 2019, About 5 years ago

Reply to the comment left by mary at 29/03/2019 - 09:52
Be aware that cavity wall insulation will be for the whole building and not just your flat.

19:36 PM, 30th March 2019, About 5 years ago

Reply to the comment left by Michael Barnes at 30/03/2019 - 00:07
Again I'd like to point out that my company can help to install measures to achieve an improved EPC with no cost to the landlord.

ECO3 launched in October 2018 and with a qualifying tenant we could install:

Internal Wall Insualtion
Loft Insualtion
Room in Roof Insulation
Underfloor Insulation

We could also install:
Replacement Gas Boilers with am insualtion measure other than loft
Replacement Electric Storage Heaters

Please visit our website and have a read as it seems that this is a suitable place to communicate with landlords about how we could help.

Contact me via email for any advice or to chat about anything we could help with

http://Www.becosmart.co.uk

Chris@b-ecosmart.co.uk

Jireh Homes

20:52 PM, 30th March 2019, About 5 years ago

Hi Marie - as mentioned a few times, engage a DEA who will model various options to raise the SAP Rating to fall within Band E. This will be more productive than simply reviewing the standard recommendation options, as well as being more cost effective. Should the required improvements costs more than the £3500 (inc. VAT) cap you may register for an exemption.

mary

21:00 PM, 30th March 2019, About 5 years ago

Reply to the comment left by Chris Snaith at 30/03/2019 - 19:36
Hi,
Yes and thanks, I'm having difficulty accessing the property to get a new EPC, my last one was an F. I don't have much of an income and had read I could only get grants if I have a DSS tenant. I don't and by May will have none. I'll phone on Monday, but don't want to be wasting your time, and I don't own the freehold, and from the outside can tell I may have problems getting permission to alter things.

Roy B

13:21 PM, 11th April 2019, About 5 years ago

When was the last EPC done - the requirements change and I had to do a lot less work than expected. Wait for the new EOC and advice on that.

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