Should we get a new EPC?

Wkmg

Bought our house 6 years ago. Looking to get it on the market ASAP. EPC was 55 back then. Was so low due to non insulated walls on the main. Apart from getting new light bulbs as and when required (previously 25% energy saving, sure more now) the only thing we’ve changed is the boiler but the old EPC gave the boiler 4/5 stars (whatever that objectively means). I’ve looked at the other houses on the market and a lot of them have an EPC in the high 60s.

Personally I tend to ignore the EPC when I’m looking at houses but perhaps I’m the odd one out. Do you think there is any point getting a new EPC? It might go up a few points.

HopeAndDriftWood

I would. We had ours done for £45 last week - we'd only changed the boiler too, which was also already 4/5 stars, but it went up a fair amount and is now one of the highest compatible ones in the area. It sold to the first viewing, although that probably wasn't EPC rated!

I've refused to view anywhere with a low EPC, I like to be warm and having lived here, as much as I've loved it, I know how important it is to me to be able to be warm, and to not be spending a fortune on getting there!

Wkmg

Thanks. If it’s that cheap I’ll just get one. Who did you use? We’re the a national provider?

babyblade41

I am very diligent with the EPC and think as time goes on more people will as well

tom9980

I had an EPC done on my rental two weeks ago and had a nice chat with the surveyor. He told me he regularly goes to properties and the software only ever gives them a low rating because they generally don't have gas boilers.

He has seen the software make bizarre grades on very efficient houses that have floor, wall insulation and even between the floor insulation above and beyond the recommended levels still get low marks when in reality they are very warm properties and cheap to heat.

In theory it is a good idea but reality is currently different it seems.

RelievedSheff

I do think that as energy prices rise people will become more conscious of the EPC of houses that they are considering purchasing.

To be honest we didn't pay much attention to the EPC of our recent purchase as it was a new build so we expected it it be high. It is rated a band B property.

What really surprised us was that our previous inefficient 1930's semi achieved a Band D.

Davesnave

It's like school reports; everyone looks at the final grade and not the detail.


The EPC shouldn't be just about what a house has achieved , but also how easy or hard it would be to achieve more. It could also inform buyers about the construction of the property at an early stage.

Of course, none of that is realistic for £45!

RelievedSheff

Davesnave wrote: »

It's like school reports; everyone looks at the final grade and not the detail.


The EPC shouldn't be just about what a house has achieved , but also how easy or hard it would be to achieve more. It could also inform buyers about the construction of the property at an early stage.

Of course, none of that is realistic for £45!

There is a section with recommended upgrades and what energy savings these would make.

For our new home it recommends fitting solar panels at a cost of £4-6k to bring the house to band A and save a whole £87 over three years!

Needless to say we won't do that :cool:

edgex

RelievedSheff wrote: »

There is a section with recommended upgrades and what energy savings these would make.

For our new home it recommends fitting solar panels at a cost of £4-6k to bring the house to band A and save a whole £87 over three years!

Needless to say we won't do that :cool:

Solar pv or solar thermal?

If it's a southerly facing roof, solar pv should save you much much more than that.

edgex

Wkmg wrote: »

Bought our house 6 years ago. Looking to get it on the market ASAP. EPC was 55 back then. Was so low due to non insulated walls on the main. Apart from getting new light bulbs as and when required (previously 25% energy saving, sure more now) the only thing we’ve changed is the boiler but the old EPC gave the boiler 4/5 stars (whatever that objectively means). I’ve looked at the other houses on the market and a lot of them have an EPC in the high 60s.

Personally I tend to ignore the EPC when I’m looking at houses but perhaps I’m the odd one out. Do you think there is any point getting a new EPC? It might go up a few points.

Is the loft insulation done? Current standard is for at least 270mm thickness, so if yours isn't, worth topping it up.
Will be worth a few points on an EPC.

Hexane

edgex wrote: »

Solar pv or solar thermal?

If it's a southerly facing roof, solar pv should save you much much more than that.

Indeed, the figures and recommendations commonly generated by the EPC software seem to be 5 to 10 years out of date because the solar market has changed rapidly. For one thing, they very often recommend solar thermal even though it is now effectively uneconomic. And the 2.5kW solar PV recommendations they they estimate costing £4-6K are now pointless, you could easily get a 4kW solar PV installation for less than £4K now.