Top floor flat, Poor EPC?

ss2020jd

What is the potential rating of the property after the suggested changes? There should be a section that indicates that. 

Although that is a concerning rating for a newer property. I sold a Victorian terrace with a D rating that had potential for a C and I am buying an older property with a D rating that with a few changes can be a C. I think it will be hard to sell anything less than a C in the future.

safvoxi

Thanks everyone, I've looked at the EPC a few times and the current rating is a 4 (G) with a potential to get to 56 (D) once all the improvments are made. Without getting good insulation and sorting the roof, the changes within the flat won't make a huge difference. There are 18 flats in the building and the only ones with C/D ratings are mid-floors.

Its a leasehold flat too so I'd need the freeholder to sign off on improving the entire building which is highley unlikely and thats also assuming the govermnent will have a new grant scheme opening up.....

I'm propbably better off risking my luck with the govt. help to sell scheme.

AdrianC

This is clearly why this flat is cheaper than you would otherwise expect...

So you have two choices.
1. Go for it, and view the EPC as an improvement project.
2. Walk away.

Section62

safvoxi said:

There are 18 flats in the building and the only ones with C/D ratings are mid-floors.

Have you checked the EPC reports from some of the other flats?  Although some of the flat-specific things will differ (e.g. room heating) cross-checking with others will help to confirm whether building specific items (e.g. roof type) have been correctly assessed.

Also, if you were thinking of living there long-term (5 years is not enough) I personally would consider the possibility of the EPC system getting an overhaul to bring it into line with changing ideas of efficiency and performance.

E.g. Heating water with an immersion heater is expensive, but not inefficient.  Switching to a TOU tariff (e.g. Economy7) reduces the cost. In my view it is illogical for immersion heating of hot water to be rated "very poor", when we are on the brink of the main alternative (gas CH) being phased out with no clarity on the replacement, and in the midst of the 'smart' meter programme bringing TOU tariffs to everyone.

I wouldn't suggest buying a property gambling that the EPC system will change, but on the other hand, not buying a property based only on the current (deeply flawed) EPC system is also a gamble of sorts, especially if it is one of the few which are affordable to you, the current heating arrangements suit your lifestyle, and there is scope to make some improvement under the current rating system.

Overall, I think other factors are likely to have a greater impact on the value of this property in 10 years time than the EPC rating it has today.