EPC rating is an F. Can I get to an E by just making the cheaper improvements?

currantbun2

Hi, I want to sell a cottage that was given a F rating 6 years ago. I need to get at least up to an E as it's the sort of place people want to let out rather than live in (ie a bit small). Since buying we have added loft insulation, partially double-glazed and added electric underfloor heating in the main living area. The main heat sources are economy 7 storage heaters and a multi-fuel stove.
 
I cannot for the life of me find any info on exactly how many points I would get for each improvement, to get to a higher band so I have no idea if I can get to an E as I'm not prepared to do anything expensive, so does anyone have any clue as to whether I can get to an E if I do the cheaper of the recommendations. These would be:

- hot water cylinder insulation
- draught proofing
- low energy lightbulbs (these were 33% so can be increased)

I can't do anything about wall insulation or heat pumps or solar panels so that will have to do. 
Surely that can get me to an E, along with the other stuff????  

I have to let off steam a bit and say I'm more than a little bit fed up with being regulated to death in every which way.....

MikeJXE

If you do those improvements then get re assessed you will know what rating it is 

What’s the point in trying to guess ?

EssexHebridean

Pay for an up to date EPC now and see what that suggests, things change over time, and particularly the heating could be looked o more favourably now than when the old EPC was done. You can also pick the assessors brain around things like whether a change to HHR NSH's might make a bit of a difference. 

theartfullodger

Dunno, try it, but frankly I'd want to get to C.

currantbun2

I really don't think a C is possible without spending a fortune. I'ts an old place and as I want to sell, I'm not prepared to spend thousands. 
Will get the EPC done and see how it comes out, maybe it's an E already. 

Newbie_John

I sometimes think that the EPC rating depends on assessor's mood. On my street all houses are more or less the same and EPC ratings are C,D,E. Comparing some C and E that I've been to differ just by LED lights.. even looking them up online you see discrepancy where things look quite similar, as well as improvement suggestions, some things are assumed and EPC varies.

Green_hopeful

We got caught out with EPC lottery last year. Three houses in a row. C, D and we got E. Ours had everything done including changing all the bulbs for LEDs. If we did it again I would look to see what similar houses got and go for the assessor who got the highest score for a similar set up. 

FreeBear

Loft insulation and changing all the light bulbs to LED will probably get you a point on each. Only upgrading a few windows isn't going to make much of a difference. Putting in electric underfloor heating could well knock a few points off. With the way energy prices are going at the moment, it will be very expensive to run.

If you were borderline F before, you might scrape through to an E rating, but don't hold your breath.

currantbun2

Thanks. Perhaps as the certificate is still valid I might be better just leaving it and any buyer will assume it's gone up since we bought it. 

powerful_Rogue

currantbun2 said:

Thanks. Perhaps as the certificate is still valid I might be better just leaving it and any buyer will assume it's gone up since we bought it. 

If I was buying it to live in, the EPC wouldn't bother me. If I was buying it to rent, i'd want an EPC of at least E already in place. Landlords think about money.