EPC mistake/ RHI incorrect - what to do next?

soloequestrian

We installed solar panels 7 years ago and had an EPC carried out so we could claim the FIT.  Two years later we had a log gassification boiler fitted that is eligible for RHI.  The previous EPC was still current so we used that in our RHI claim.  Fast forward to this year - boiler is hopeless, we hate it, so consulted a renewables expert who came to look at the house.  While he was here he looked at the EPC and said that the heat requirement stated on it was far too low.  Of course RHI is determined by deemed heat so that meant our RHI payment was also far too low.  We had a second EPC carried out and our RHI payments have almost doubled.  I would like to backdate this to date we installed the boiler but there doesn't seem to be a mechanism.  I tried to contact the original EPC assessor but couldn't.  I reported the situation to his assuring body (Elmhurst) and they have not been able to contact him either.  They now say that even if they could contact him, they would only be able to get him to visit the house again and check the EPC and any changes would be backdated to the date of the second check, not to the initial error.  This is what we've already done anyway.  The amount of RHI we've missed out on is in the region of £6000 so worth fighting for - does anyone have any suggestions about where to turn next?  I will try Ofgem but I've been in touch with them already and they said it's a matter for Elmhurst to deal with.  Feeling very frustrated.   And cold - the boiler is so awful that we don't use it so my kitchen is hovering around 7 degrees C at the moment.  The missing RHI would be very useful for our heating system swap!

greatcrested

I think you're on a hiding to nothing.

Sadly EPCs are completely unreliable. It's a tick-box excercise, done by Tom, !!!!!! or Harry (sorry guys, but you'd be RICS surveyors if you were any good) with almost minimal training, most of which is devoted to how to complete the online forms, not how to inspect properties.

Many of the answers are even categorised as 'assumed'.

The boat sailed 7 years ago, and trying to prove the state of the property at that time will be impossible, so backdating is just not going to happen.

soloequestrian

I know I'm very naive but why would the government use such a totally unreliable system to make decisions about RHI payments?  I know the non-domestic system is open to terrible abuse but at least it's based on real figures....

sgun

soloequestrian said:

I know I'm very naive but why would the government use such a totally unreliable system to make decisions about RHI payments?  

Because they don't actually care.