EPC

spirepeaks

Can anyone advise please? I rent out a property and the EPC was done in 2012 achieving a Grade C with 72 points. Since then in 2021 I had a new A grade boiler installed along with a whole new system. That's radiators, room thermostat, TVRs and programmer. Both boilers were the condensing combi type.  I have just had it re tested and it has come out as a D with 67 points. That's 2 points off a C. The assessors says that since 2012 the methodology has changed in the software and fuel costs are now taken into account. This doesn't make sense to me how can you improve the energy performance in your house and be marked down for it?     . 

ComicGeek

The Government has messed around with the EPC calculation software and methodology a number of times since 2012, so absolutely the case that some updated residential EPCs will score poorer than they did 10 years ago.

Doesn't sound like you're too far off a C though, so might be something simple to do to improve - even getting an air leakage test carried out might be enough.

spirepeaks

Thanks but the problem seems to be with the grading of the boiler and parts. 2010 Boiler and radiators, mains gas performance recorded as Very good, 2021 - Good. in 2012 Main heating controls Programmer, room thermostat and TRVs  - Average. 2021 this achieved a Good. so no part of the new heating system achieved a very good. I don't understand how this can happen on a new system     

anselld

Presumably a different assessor.  It is certainly true thatsome assessors are more generous than others and many would make use of whatever wiggle room there is in the "assumptions" to get you over the border to C.  It is not an exact process by any means.

Unless there is a simple recommendation to improve I would try a different assessor after researching recent assessments of similar local proerties.  The assessor telephone numbers are all on the reports which can be searched online.  You will get a feel for who is more generous.

MultiFuelBurner

I wonder if gas central heating systems will have a ceiling of average with heat pump systems as good and above?

spirepeaks

It was the same assessor. 

ComicGeek

Don't believe comments about 'wriggle room' and assessors being more generous. EPCs are closely audited, and failing audits costs time and money to relodge, as well as potentially losing the ability to work for periods while suspended.

No assessor is going to risk failing an audit just to get a slightly better rating for a customer, particularly when they're not getting paid extra to take that risk.

The efficiency standards for boilers have massively increased over the last 10 years, as well as opportunities for increased heating controls, ie delayed start thermostats, optimum start, weather compensation, lower temperatures with underfloor heating etc, as well as insulating heating pipework etc. There are also massive differences in boiler efficiencies with the top energy band as well, particularly if it's a combi boiler.

Just ask the assessor what you would need to do to improve the rating to a C, they will have a good idea after doing the assessment - it will even list potential improvements on the certificate.

ComicGeek

MultiFuelBurner said:

I wonder if gas central heating systems will have a ceiling of average with heat pump systems as good and above?

No, you can still get a 'very good' for the heating feature with gas boilers, but you need to have the highest level of controls to do so. So normally at least 2 separate heating zones with time and temperature control for each, and delayed start thermostats.

In the future who knows, but as the EPC banding is currently based on running costs (and unrealistic energy costs at that) a gas boiler will still generally achieve a better EPC rating than a heat pump.