Top floor flat, Poor EPC?

safvoxi

Hi, I'm a FTB and have found a perfect flat in my budget. But it has an EPC rating of G unfortunately.

I'm planning to live there for 5 to 10 years but I'm worried that ill have issues when I try to sell.

Does anyone have any advice? Should I walk away?

user1977

What more do you know about its construction / insulation etc?

safvoxi

Very little if I'm honest but here is a picture, if that helps?

Greymug

G is the minimum rating you can get in a EPC.

I've only ever seen a G rating in properties that don't have any heating system at all, just those portable heaters that you plug in.

Not good, mate.

user1977

safvoxi said:

Very little if I'm honest but here is a picture, if that helps?

What does the rest of the EPC say?

safvoxi

From the EPC reprt

user1977

You can improve the heating and hot water to something more efficient (is there gas in the building?), though I don't know to what extent that will improve the rating. Changing everything to low energy lighting would be a cheap and easy win. Can't do much unilaterally about the walls and roof, though it's possible they've assumed wrongly.

ProDave

Sooner or later all buildings are going to NEED to be updated if we are to meed greenhouse gas targets.

Do you want to risk being hit for a big bill to update a lousy old poorly built building or are you going to gamble your eggs on a government grant being available to cover ALL the cost?

Personally I would not touch anything less than an EPC C with a barge pole, unless it was very cheap to cover the upgrades required.

Until people stop ignoring the issue and start offering lower prices for property with a poor EPC then nothing will change.

andy444

I'm surprised you have such a low rating for somewhere that seems relatively modern. I'd expect a G rating for something that was built over a hundred years ago.

I can't tell from the photo but I assume that it has a pitched roof. If you are able to access the roof space you can lay some insulation above the ceiling that should help a lot. The biggest way to improve the rating seems to be to update the boiler and/or hot water cylinder. 

Without knowing all the details I don't think it will take a lot to improve the rating.

user1977

andy444 said:

I can't tell from the photo but I assume that it has a pitched roof.

I know EPC assessors' assumptions are sometimes wrong, but if they've said it's a flat roof I'd be inclined to believe them...

FreeBear

user1977 said:

andy444 said:

I can't tell from the photo but I assume that it has a pitched roof.

I know EPC assessors' assumptions are sometimes wrong, but if they've said it's a flat roof I'd be inclined to believe them...

And flat roofs require regular maintenance. Depending on the type of covering used, it may need replacing every 25 years or so and will be prone to leaking. For an FTB, I'd say find something of a more conventional build with a higher EPC - This one is going to cost a fair bit to improve and heat.