Advice on EPC certificate

Okrib

EPCs are generally utterly utterly pointless. I must have been involved in well over 250 transactions and I can't remember anyone (buyer or seller) ever commenting on them. It is basically seen as another cost and requirement you must have in order to sell but totally unimportant.

If you're going to not buy a place because of an EPC report then good luck dealing with surveys!

ComicGeek

I would only worry about getting a new EPC if you were planning to rent the property out and it was already an E, F or G rating. Generally you would get a worse EPC rating if you recertified now, assuming that nothing's been done in the last 9 years to the property, as the standards are constantly reviewed. This could make the difference between being able to rent it as is, or having to undertake additional works to make it compliant.

SMR710

Selling a house is expensive enough. If they've got the option to not pay for something (an updated EPC when it's still valid) then I'm with the vendor!
If you're that concerned then ask to have one done at your own cost.

badger09

As Executor, I've recently accepted an offer on my late sister's house.

The EPC (March 2009), when she bought the house in 2013 showed E 39, potential 55. She had all the doors and windows replaced, added a conservatory, additional loft insulation etc.

Although it was still valid, I thought an up to date one might reflect the improvements. Done in July this year it shows E 54, potential 81.

Probably a waste of money, but might reassure possible purchasers like OP.

davidmcn

badger09 wrote: »

Probably a waste of money, but might reassure possible purchasers like OP.

But the OP hasn't suggested that anything has changed since the EPC was done, so seems pointless to get it updated.

AnotherJoe

AnnaNd wrote: »

Hi,
I am currently looking to buy a house/flat and found a really nice one but noticed that last EPC assessment was done in Jan 2010 (so it's been almost 9 years), rated E. I know they are valid for 10 years but I read somewhere that when property goes on sale sellers usually get a new certificate. I contacted the agent to find out whether the seller is planning on getting a new one done and she said no as certificate is valid until Jan 2020.
Do you think this is a red flag? Considering the property got E rating 9 years ago, is it a risk that they haven't done one recently? Is it something I should demand and require as a condition to my offer if I go for it? Or do I just pay £100 for a new certificate once I bought the house? Thanks so much!

Its not even a flag, let alone a red one.


Why would you pay for a certificate when you bought the house?

What would you do, frame it and put it on the wall?

badger09

davidmcn wrote: »

But the OP hasn't suggested that anything has changed since the EPC was done, so seems pointless to get it updated.

If OP is still in the initial stages, she might not yet know if anything has changed since 2010:cool:

ProDave

dunstonh wrote: »

I recently paid for an EPC and it was a complete and utter waste of money in terms of what info it provides. it is money for old rope.

Virtually all the data on there is estimated and was way off the mark in terms of reality.

Yes I know someone selling a house. He has done a lot of work to it adding extra insulation with photographs of all the work he has done. He presented that, along with actual gas bills to show the real heating cost over a number of years, and he presented proper full SAP calculations that shows it should get a band C.

The assessor completely ignored all that, and just used the standard assumptions for the construction based on the age of the property, and gave it an E.

It seems to have made no difference to his sale as most people ignore them as being irrelevant anyway.

eddddy

ProDave wrote: »

It seems to have made no difference to his sale as most people ignore them as being irrelevant anyway.

People who will definitely care are people who are buying the property to rent out.

As of April 2018, a property must have an EPC rating of E or above, if it's to be rented out.

ProDave

eddddy wrote: »

People who will definitely care are people who are buying the property to rent out.

As of April 2018, a property must have an EPC rating of E or above, if it's to be rented out.

So in the case of my friend, it will make no difference.

I agree people should care, and it's about time houses with a poor EPC that are going to cost a fortune to heat, sold for less than an efficient house. But I have said before I am building a new house that I expect to get an EPC A