Falsified EPCs created by an Assessor - urgency to do something...

fewcloudy

So you want to buy then, but the owner does not want to sell to you? I still don't get it to be honest...

ComicGeek

adviseforumthanks said:

The attitude, when we contact the dodge EPC assessor was stunning, asking to be paid to change anything and then personal negativity when he was shown how his EPC must have been falsified. 

I'm not sure why the EPC assessor would even talk to you about it - you're not their client, and unless I've missed something you're not the property owner or tenant. While not professional, I can see why they were annoyed that a random person was accusing them of falsifying EPCs. There is a set complaints process in place for both assessors and accreditation bodies to follow, but I honestly don't see what any of that has to do with you personally.

The EPC auditing process is thorough to the extent that the assessor has to provide documented evidence and lots of photos to support all entries made into the software. It isn't open to the degree of personal opinion that people suggest on here, there are clear guidance and conventions that everyone has to follow. That doesn't stop an assessor fraudulently uploading a photo in a different property and claiming it was taken in another, but if they were found out they were be suspended from the accreditation body and wouldn't be able to undertake any similar certification work in the future - on that basis, what payment would the owner have to pay the assessor for them to risk that? I just don't think that happens frequently, if at all.

Again, without more detail on how you are connected to the property, I just don't see that anyone is going to investigate your complaint. Yes, it is strange that it changes from a F/G to a C, and unlikely that this could be achieved without some level of insulation included within the EPC assessment. 

Fancy posting the EPC link for us all to look at?? We will be able to see the current and historic EPCs on there for comparison.

caprikid1

Is this an attempt to down value the properties to buy them ?

False certificate = no work required = better price.

It's still not clear what your motive is, you have done far more effort than a concerned citizen .

MaryNB

adviseforumthanks said:

The attitude, when we contact the dodge EPC assessor was stunning, asking to be paid to change anything and then personal negativity when he was shown how his EPC must have been falsified. This could be rife in the industry, but if local people with local knowledge call out wrong things, then it gets better for everyone. 

If somebody contacted me about work I did on a property that had nothing to do with them and accused me of falsifying work, I can't say I'd be that polite either! I work to an hourly charge out rate so certainly wouldn't spend time on something for free, especially for someone who wasn't the client in the first place. I don't know why you were surprised someone didn't react well when you accused them of fraud.


EPCs are very flimsy. I rented a room in flat that was rated E, just one point above an F. The flat above was rated C. They only differences were we had energy efficient bulbs, they didn't (so we should have actually scored higher) and we got marked down for no roof insulation. The flat above didn't because there was another flat above them. 

Section62

ComicGeek said:

Fancy posting the EPC link for us all to look at?? We will be able to see the current and historic EPCs on there for comparison.

Given that would allow the properties and people involved to be identified I don't think it would be wise for the OP to do as you suggest.

adviseforumthanks

Thanks. These are wonderful history properties and we would the right thing to be done for them and for the families that move into them at a time of increasing energy costs. Didn't confront the new assessor, we approached and asked for it to be fixed only to have a barrage of insults. I just don't think they should get away with it.

I can see if I can post up the meat of the old EPC and new EPC as there may be some experts who know more. 

TheJP

Section62 said:

TheJP said:

Section62 said:

TheJP said:

If i was the tenant im not sure i would be comfortable with someone not connected doing what you are doing, could create issues for the tenant.

From the OP's posts it appears the properties are currently being marketed to prospective tenants - which implies there are no tenants in-situ.

The prospective tenants would surely benefit from the OP's diligence in trying to make sure they are not misled into renting a property which is being (allegedly) falsely represented to them?

I think there is more to this than someone not connected to the property doing due diligence on behalf of someone they don't know. 

It sounds like a personal vendetta for some unknown reason or perhaps they were the previous tenants? The OPs unwillingness to clarify what their position in all of this makes it feel like not all of what they say are factual.

Does that matter?

The location, people, and companies involved are not identified, therefore the thread can stand as a theoretical discussion about 'what if' a would-be landlord works with an EPC assessor to obtain an EPC better than the property should have.

I'm fairly certain that if the thread had been started by a new tenant of an accidental landlord who'd conspired with a crooked EPC assessor to be able to rent the property out, by now the pair of them would have been tarred and feathered with no questions asked.

So I'll give the OP the benefit of any doubt that they are making this enquiry for some genuine purpose. I'd possibly go further and suggest if the circumstances are something along the lines you suggest (e.g. previous tenants) then it would be perfectly valid for them to be discrete or ambiguous about some of the details to avoid being identified and facing possible repercussions.

Well yes because for all we know the OP wants to discredit a professional without knowing all the facts for the benefit of a stranger. 

If the OP was a previous tenant then yes that would make sense but the OP is ignoring any comments about how they are connected. 

Im not sticking up for the EPC assessor because if they have falsified the EPC then that's shady however the OP has put a lot of time and energy into this which leads me to believe there is an ulterior motive at play. I could be wrong but im not the only member here that thinks this.

adviseforumthanks

Old creditable assement

-Date of assessment: early March 2021

-Date of certificate: early March 2021

-Type of assessment: RdSAP

adviseforumthanks

New dodgy assessment:

Assessment details

Date of assessment mid August 2021

Date of certificate mid August 2021

Type of assessment RdSAP

adviseforumthanks

This is one of the homes. The other home in the property (same construction and heating as they are semi) was an F in March 2019 and again rated a C by the same new assessor in early Oct 2021.  

Goes to show the old assessors were not totally agreeing and rules may have changed - but the new assessor seems to have marked them both as C - different landlords for each property. Seems very odd.