EPC said that we have cavity wall insulation, recent survey says different!

Anon

I wonder how widespread this is please and if we have any options.

We moved into our current property about four years ago and at the time the EPC said we had Cavity Wall insulation. Over the years, a number of door-to-door sales people have been round trying to sign us up for cavity wall insulation and each time we have declined saying we have it (as the EPC said we had it, the Barrett property was built in 1999 and we had been told that it was fitted as standard at that stage).

This past week the sales team have been door-to-door on our estate and again gave the sales patter, but this one was different. He said that they had recently fitted Cavity Wall Insultion in a number of properties on our estate like ours and like me they were convinced that they already had it. It would cost nothing for him to do the survey, so I thought why not?

He drilled a small hole in the mortar and put a probe in and found nothing - he then invited his supervisor and another surveyor/sales person to double check as he said that they get fined if they sign someone up that already has it. They also found nothing but a gap.

What are the options please? Get another survey? To get it done won't break the bank at £89 (four bed detached), though I feel sure I read online that you could get it completely free even when not on benefits/over 70.

The EPC said we had it. If true that it is not fitted we have spent four years paying more on our heating bills than necessary and the people we bought the property from also paid for a worthless EPC that was not true (but they had no choice but to pay for one = scam!).

Many thanks

Anon

GlynD

I'd be talking to the conveyancing solicitor here before doing anything else.

Itsmine

Hi I have recently moved to a 1999 house and it has no cavity wall insulation despite my survey suggesting it should have some. When the cavity wall surveyor came round he said he thought he was wasting his time and was surprised I had no insulation.You can get it installed free from many places mainly energy supply companies but lots of the free deals may end soon

agrinnall

It's very unlikely that any tests would have been done when the EPC was produced, they would have relied on what the owners at the time told them. I doubt whether there would be any claim against either the EPC producer or the conveyancing solicitor, sometimes what people say has to be taken as the truth - and the previous owners may also have believed the insulation was there if they were told it when they bought.

G_M

EPCs a a waste of time. The 'surveyors' have about 2 days training, and the tests they do are non-existant.

So relying on them for anything is unwise.

What did your survey say about wall insulation - that would have been a better source of information. Or did you buy new from Barrat, in which case what did Barrat say?

Your one option may be to sue the seller/EPC=provided for misrepresentating the property.

teneighty

As G_M said the EPC is a comlplete waste of time.

In 1999 new builds had to comply with the Building Regulations at the time, from memory walls had to achieve a U-value of at least 0.45. This could be done with a clear cavity if thicker lightweight blocks were used in the inner leaf of the wall and plasterboard on dabs internally. This was a quicker and cheaper option so popular with the mass housebuilders.

The other thing to watch out for is the cavity was kept clear for a reason. If the house is in an exposed location, on the coast or on a hill, the cavity needs to be clear to prevent penetrating damp. Also the construction may require a clear cavity such as timber frame.

Anon

Thank you for your responses. I am not looking to sue anyone but the EPC was misleading and an unnecessary expense for the sellers if it isn't accurate.

Tesco and EDF seem to offer free so I could get them out for a second opinion and then go with them if it is necessary, as there was a marked difference in our old house after having the work done. Is anyone aware of incentives (beyond free install!) for tax paying, non-benefit, younger than 70 people please...?

Anon

G_M

well we all know EPCs are " an unnecessary expense for the sellers" but sadly they are the law.

Get a proper survey done. As teneighty says, beyond establishing if there is insulation, and whether there is a cavity to use, you also need to check if the cavity needs to be maintained.