New Landlord ~ what should I pay for Energy Performance Certificate

cleopatra7

Due to financial pressure I am considering moving in with my parents and renting out my property. I believe I need and Energy Performance Certificate. I am unsure what is a fair price. A local company in my area epc warrington are charging 49.99. Which seems quite cheap compared to other companies, is there any difference with certificates all or they all the same, so it would be OK to got for the cheapest?

Geenie

That is what I paid and the certificate consists of pages printed off via email with lots of bright colours to make it look more interesting then it actually is!

You will probably be told you can get it cheaper, as I was by a friend after I had this last one done. But I also found out that the person they told me about, also has a long standing energy saving business running parallel with doing certificates, and supplies loft insulation etc to homes. It sounds like a conflict of interest to me, and ruse to tout for work.

cleopatra7

Thanks. I haven't seen any other companies doing it any cheaper in my area. I just wondered are the certificates all the same from each company if they are you might as well go for the cheapest!

david29dpo

Should be the same yes but i had a cheap one once and the cavity wall insulation was missed! Some renters are now looking for the best rated properties due to the fuel costs. Make sure you point out all the benefits to the EPC man when he comes.

poppysarah

And get any improvements you're planning done first?

theartfullodger

(This may sound very politically incorrect but...), I swear on my wallet that in my experience renters don't have any interest (until they are in and don't like the utility bills..) in EPCs. This comes from houses in the highlands of Scotland, student let in Surrey and talking to 3 letting agents in Essex re. renting mum-in-laws house. In all cases no renter has ever asked me about EPCs and the 3 Essex agents told me they almost never have any questions or interest in them.

Sad perhaps as we subside under the rising Atlantic but, wouldn't waste yr. money as a new Landlord on insulation unless you have problems renting it.

Good luck!

PS There's a load more things you need to think about, as you know, becoming a LL: How's the book reading going ??

Cheers!

Artful

clutton_2

they are an utter waste of time and money as far as i can see - even if your house comes back as the coldest in the kingdom - you dont have to do anything about it - what a fruitless waste of energy ( excuse the pun) - not to mention paper and time

tbs624

theartfullodger wrote: »

(This may sound very politically incorrect but...), I swear on my wallet that in my experience renters don't have any interest (until they are in and don't like the utility bills..) in EPCs.

Totally agree - most potential Ts are far more interetsed in local schools, commute time to work, has it got a garden, will my wardrobe fit in the bedroom, where can I park my car etc.

If they are worried about utility bills they can ask to see the current/previous T's bills and ask whether there is insulation, and see for themselves whether it has DG, modern CH etc. The fact that T lifestyle can make a huge difference to emissions/utility costs seems to be put out of the equation plus, as Clutton says, there is no obligation on the LL to improve insulation etc once the EPC is done. We've posted elsewhere about the enerygy saving lightbulbs fiasco - make sure they're in when your have your EPC done but there is nothing to say that the T will use that type in the future.

The fact that there is a poss 200 quid fine for non compliance means that most LLs will just get the EPC done as, at 50 quid to cover you for the next 10 years, it works out cheaper than a visit from the Trading Standards folk. Ask your EPC assessor to plant a tree to offset his journey emissions from the trip to your property

cleopatra7

Thanks, for everyones comments. Being new and money is tight I just needed to make sure I wasn't getting ripped off. But as you say £50 and covers for 10 years seems a good buy.