Nice House, low EPC rating

parisjordana

The house we hopefully exchange contracts on next week (fingers and toes and everything crossed) has an awful rating but we loved the house so so much that it hasnt bothered us and on the hips it gives out information on how to improve etc but I say if you love the house then then go for it..............

typeractive

googler wrote: »

If you like the house, buy it.

If you're likely to be bankrupted by a (possibly slight) increase in heating bills, then don't buy it.

If you can buy it and make some improvements like insulating the loft, cavity wall insulation, double or triple glazing, then buy it.

Choices, choices.

You may be able to argue the price down by implying that you'll 'need' to do all this extra work ..... but you may also find the sellers tell you to take a hike when you try.

I second this and the majority of the advice in this thread. If it all checks out - go for it! Good luck!

Evee2000

Swipe wrote: »

My new house has a mid D rating (detached bungalow) and my old house (semi) was a low F rating. The bungalow feels much colder in winter and has loft insulation and cavity wall insulation. I wouldn't pay too much attention to the EPC.

Sounds about right. Bungalows have a larger heat loss floor than a semi/mid terrace that will have a floor area split over two levels.

webvr

I have just had someone out trying to get me to install cavity wall insulation. He told me that I would need an Energy Performance Certificate if I was to sell my house which I believe to be true but also that if it was a low reading I could be expected to pay £600 to get this level up higher before selling if not. Can someone tell me if this is true or not.

Welshwoofs

webvr wrote: »

I have just had someone out trying to get me to install cavity wall insulation. He told me that I would need an Energy Performance Certificate if I was to sell my house which I believe to be true but also that if it was a low reading I could be expected to pay £600 to get this level up higher before selling if not. Can someone tell me if this is true or not.

If he's maintaining that you have to do all the suggestions put forward for improving your energy efficiency before selling he's talking out of his backside. It's up to you what you do, the EPC is merely information for the buyer....and not terribly helpful information at that since it seems to take no account of different heating systems or the way old houses were built.

Really the Energy Rating seems to come down to having cavity wall insulation (if indeed you have cavity walls), the correct thickness of insulation in the loft (270mm I think) and bunging in low energy lightbulbs. Well the loft insulation and light bulbs are easily sorted (almost any DIY store sells rolls of loft insulation at reasonable prices) and as for the cavity wall insulation, you could either do it or leave it and your buyers may ask for a bit knocked off. My Mother recently had a quote for cavity wall insulation which was £260 so it's not an expensive job by any means.

Evee2000

Welshwoofs wrote: »

If he's maintaining that you have to do all the suggestions put forward for improving your energy efficiency before selling he's talking out of his backside. It's up to you what you do, the EPC is merely information for the buyer....and not terribly helpful information at that since it seems to take no account of different heating systems or the way old houses were built.

Really the Energy Rating seems to come down to having cavity wall insulation (if indeed you have cavity walls), the correct thickness of insulation in the loft (270mm I think) and bunging in low energy lightbulbs. Well the loft insulation and light bulbs are easily sorted (almost any DIY store sells rolls of loft insulation at reasonable prices) and as for the cavity wall insulation, you could either do it or leave it and your buyers may ask for a bit knocked off. My Mother recently had a quote for cavity wall insulation which was £260 so it's not an expensive job by any means.

Totally agree that you do NOT have to comply with the recommendations on the EPC - this is essentially information for the buyer, to show how improvements could be made.

The Energy assessment DOES actually take account of the heating system currently installed, build type and age of the property, when generating the recommendations (as well as control over the heating, area to be heated and heat loss walls/floors/garages/conservatories) - oh and low energy bulbs!).

Welshwoofs

Evee2000 wrote: »

The Energy assessment DOES actually take account of the heating system currently installed, build type and age of the property, when generating the recommendations (as well as control over the heating, area to be heated and heat loss walls/floors/garages/conservatories) - oh and low energy bulbs!).

Perhaps I worded that wrongly...they don't seem to take any account of cost to run the house (no matter how 'inefficient') compared to average. For instance, my house is a 150yr old brick built cottage and has a terrible energy rating with no room for improvement. Now that may put some buyers off because they'll equate 'inefficient' with 'expensive'...however although we have an old, inefficient house - it's actually cheaper to heat than a lot of so-called 'efficient' modern houses courtesy of a solid-fuel hot water and central heating system.

Evee2000

Welshwoofs wrote: »

Perhaps I worded that wrongly...they don't seem to take any account of cost to run the house (no matter how 'inefficient') compared to average. For instance, my house is a 150yr old brick built cottage and has a terrible energy rating with no room for improvement. Now that may put some buyers off because they'll equate 'inefficient' with 'expensive'...however although we have an old, inefficient house - it's actually cheaper to heat than a lot of so-called 'efficient' modern houses courtesy of a solid-fuel hot water and central heating system.

Yes, you're quite right that the EPC as it stands doesn't take account of actual running costs. I think its because we each run our heating and hot water systems differently and this could never be an exact science. The calculation is based on averages - ie 'standard occupancy' - and to be honest its really about providing information and educating the public at large with regard to reducing carbon emissions. I agree, that if someone loves your property, regardless of the cost, they will buy it!

I would imagine that your very lovely cottage may have had recommendations for internal insulation/increased hot water tank insulation/enhanced controls and probably solar/photovoltaic panels? Broken down into lower and higher cost measures. You will be limited in what you can do with such a property, I agree.