Take out shower for MEES Exemption?

UKSBD

I have a detached Cotswold cottage, can't get it to an E EPC rating without spendings £20k+

I've done the minor alterations like, energy efficient lamps, TRV's, draught proofing, topped up loft insulation and the only other recommendation under £5k is to fit a Heat recovery system for mixer showers.

This would cost about £2k save £80 a year and looks a complete waste of money.

It's been suggested if I disconnect shower, remove the fittings, get mixer taps with a 1.2m hose (or even just a rubber shower attachment for current taps) that it will no longer be classed as a shower room but just a bathroom and the recommendation for Heat recovery system for mixer showers is removed.

Would it make sense to do that, would it put of tenants, am I better off biting the bullet and spending £2k on something I think is pointless?

poseidon1

Unless you plan to get out of the landlord business by 2030, surely your bigger problem will be how to cost effectively get to EPC C by then, unless you qualify for any of the main exemptions --

https://epcadvisor.co.uk/insights/epc-requirements-landlords-2025-2030

No doubt others may shoot me down on this, but it seems wholly short sighted focusing on simply achieving EPC E now, if EPC C remains effectively unachievable for future letting purposes within the next 3 years or so, unless you are hoping a future government might defer that deadline again.

Emmia

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/6684723/take-out-shower-for-mees-exemption

Honestly, I think you'll put tenants off if the shower is one of those rubber attachments that goes over the tap, I had a bath (no shower) at uni and had to wash my hair with one of these contraptions or a jug... it was a total pain. If you have a mixer tap with a good shower head on a wall mount, that would be less off putting - but does that make it a shower again?

This does sound like a short term bodge, if the energy efficiency ratings will be tightened again in a few years, have you looked at what would be needed then?

FlorayG

I agree with @poseidon1 this whole project is a waste of time unless you have a clear plan to let it for only 3 years then sell it. If you can't easily get it to an E rating you're never going to get it to a C

knightstyle

The heat recovery unit and parts will cost under £700 plus a days labour to install. £2k sounds like a rip off.