Is it worth renting a home with more expensive rent but a better EPC rating?

WriterPerson

Hello MSE Forum members,
I'm looking to rent a home for just myself. There are a couple of places I'm interested in locally: one is a flat for £600pcm rent, which has an EPC D rating. It has a restaurant that's open four evenings a week below, and another flat above, so I suppose it may benefit from a bit of 'borrowed' heat by being in the middle of the two. The other place I'm interested in is a two-floor 'eco-house' for £950pcm rent, which has an EPC B rating. It has 'dynamic natural light' and appears to be largely open plan in design. It also costs approx. £180 per year more than the other place in council tax, being in a slightly higher band. 
£600pcm rent is obviously a lot cheaper than £950pcm, but I wondered - given how energy bills are these days - whether the difference in EPC rating between one place and the other would mean that, effectively, there'd be little discrepancy in how much I'd be spending per month between taking the place with cheaper rent but (I imagine) higher energy bills, or taking the place with more expensive rent but which should have cheaper energy bills. Possibly relevant: I spend most of my time in the home, so I will need to pay for heating the place all day through colder weather. 
I know there's a lot of scepticism generally about EPC ratings, but I'd be interested to know MSE Forum members' thoughts about this, especially if you've had experience of living in 'eco-houses' - whether they're all they're cracked up to be for energy-saving, etc.
Many thanks! 

Myci85

I would be surprised if the money potentially saved on energy bills made up the difference in rent, unless you like to live in a very warm house. I lived in an EPC D detached, very draughty house until October last year, and my energy bills were £180 per month and I was overpaying. Granted the house was cooler than some people find necessary, but I preferred to add layers and use blankets to keep warm if sat around, and if up and about doing stuff, you keep yourself warm. 
That house was poorly insulated in parts, and had no adjoining homes to share heat, so probably the same amount in energy bills in a flat would keep it far warmer. 

Bookworm105

without knowing your lifestyle I think it highly unlikely that you would "save" £350 per month on heating so the real choice is over do you want a flat over a shop or a very different proposition in terms of a house in, I assume, a different location with a very different living experience.

                                                             

tacpot12

It's unlikely to save you money, but the eco-house sounds much nicer, and you are less likely to have other problems caused by poor insulation/expensive heating, like mould. (Althogh Band D is not that bad). 

MysteryMe

Purely on energy costs it's still cheaper with the flat but don't underestimate noise, smell etc from being above a restaurant. I suspect those factors are determining the lower rent rather than the EPC rating. 

theartfullodger

V V unlikely worthwhile,,,,,

Albermarle

Due to all the publicity about energy prices in the last three years, many people have an exaggerated/inaccurate view of the actual cost. Especially since they have come down again quite significantly.
I would be pretty sure that any energy savings would be less than £100 per month, probably more like £50.

As other have said, the eco house sounds nicer, which will account for most/all of the rent difference.

Stubod

IMHO  EPC ratings in general aren't really worth the paper they are written on. Usually completed by by a clueless individual who has completed an on-line course and ticked a few boxes. 

A friend who is moving went to look at a property classified as "F" due to "no double glazing and a flat roof"....the property was fully double glazed and did not have a flat roof?? 

Another EPC rating on a property we viewed advised it needed "insulation fitting between the garage and the adjacent room", needles to say there was already insulation in place...

WriterPerson

Thanks everyone who's commented so far. Greatly appreciated!

newsgroupmonkey_

WriterPerson said:

Hello MSE Forum members,
I'm looking to rent a home for just myself. There are a couple of places I'm interested in locally: one is a flat for £600pcm rent, which has an EPC D rating. It has a restaurant that's open four evenings a week below, and another flat above, so I suppose it may benefit from a bit of 'borrowed' heat by being in the middle of the two. The other place I'm interested in is a two-floor 'eco-house' for £950pcm rent, which has an EPC B rating. It has 'dynamic natural light' and appears to be largely open plan in design. It also costs approx. £180 per year more than the other place in council tax, being in a slightly higher band. 
£600pcm rent is obviously a lot cheaper than £950pcm, but I wondered - given how energy bills are these days - whether the difference in EPC rating between one place and the other would mean that, effectively, there'd be little discrepancy in how much I'd be spending per month between taking the place with cheaper rent but (I imagine) higher energy bills, or taking the place with more expensive rent but which should have cheaper energy bills. Possibly relevant: I spend most of my time in the home, so I will need to pay for heating the place all day through colder weather. 
I know there's a lot of scepticism generally about EPC ratings, but I'd be interested to know MSE Forum members' thoughts about this, especially if you've had experience of living in 'eco-houses' - whether they're all they're cracked up to be for energy-saving, etc.
Many thanks! 

We live in a 1950s 3 bed detached dormer bungalow that has an EPC of E. We're at home all day and night (both work at home).

Our combined bills are around £300 a month. You're not going to save £350 a month + £180 a year for CT.
Maybe £100 a month saving at best, so you're still out of pocket by £250+ the council tax.

subjecttocontract

I agree you won't save the extra £350 but the ECO home is
*  likely to feel more comfortable.
*  won't have someone living above with the potential for noise.
*  won't have a restaurant underneath it.