Re-Use and old EPC

Jumex

Hello,

Looking at getting my house on the market next week, 3 estate agents coming round to value etc on Monday.

We've only been in the house for 2 years so I checked the old EPC to make sure I didnt need a new one. Nothing substantial has changed (other than topping up some loft insulation and putting low energy lights in most sockets). But i've noticed some issues with the old EPC. The old one states:

• Walls - Cavity Wall, as built insulated (assumed)
• Roof - Flat Insulated (assumed)

I know for a fact that our house has solid walls (all of the terraced houses in our street do) and am I right in thinking it's wrong to assume all flat roofs are insulated?

I suspect if i re-did the EPC it come out worse than the D performance of 68 that was obatined in Sep-12. Having solid walls with no insulation and no insulation on flat roofs in the kitchen and bathroom will surely bring the rating down, even when 'adding' back the topped up insulation and low energy lighting changes.

Question is, can i re-use the EPC even if i dont agree that it's 100% correct. Who's job is it to ensure the EPC is right?

AdrianC

It's nobody's job to ensure the EPC is accurate - especially where assumptions are made because the surveyor can't actually drill holes in walls or ceilings to look for themselves.

And, yes, an uninsulated flat roof and uninsulated solid walls would have worse thermal performance than the assumptions he's made. When was the house built?

EPCs are valid for ten years.

Jumex

AdrianC wrote: »

It's nobody's job to ensure the EPC is accurate - especially where assumptions are made because the surveyor can't actually drill holes in walls or ceilings to look for themselves.

And, yes, an uninsulated flat roof and uninsulated solid walls would have worse thermal performance than the assumptions he's made. When was the house built?

EPCs are valid for ten years.

Odd thing is the house was built in 1880. Even in my limited knowledge i'm pretty sure cavity walls weren't used in contruction back then...

G_M

1) the EPC you have complies wih the law so can be used

2) Few pople take them seriously, or take much notice of them

3) Get it updated if you wish, at a cost of £35-£50

4) or use the existing one.

Jhoney_2

I wouldn't bother, it's valid unless there has been significant change - but the issues you raise should perhaps be discussed with the EPC provider as if in doubt, they shouldn't assume it is there. e.g, I re-insulated my loft to above recommended standard and laid floorboards for storage etc.


My EPC surveyor stated that as he cannot see 80% of it(?) he cannot assume it's there - but that it would make no real difference to the energy rating. If you feel the need to re-do it, call them out to re do it based on the first report being incorrect.

That's another reason why I intend to do viewings myself, as the viewers/EA would go with the findings in the report.

pinkteapot

Unless you've done anything to the house to improve the rating, don't bother updating it. As above, it's valid for ten years.

I was very impressed when we sold. I had no idea you could re-use them. EAs came to value our house and told us how much they charged for an EPC. Mentioned to all that we'd only lived there three years. The last EA said "Oh, if you bought this three years ago it must already have an EPC" and showed us the EPC Register website. Saved us the cost! Used that EA to sell the house. (That wasn't the only reason)

When buying, the only bit of the EPC I read was the square meters. They're useful for comparing the size of houses. That's about it.