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.

UKSBD

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82150749#Comment_82150749

At the moment every recommendation (apart from ones I have done) are over £5k, so I could claim the Mees now if it wasn't for the shower. It will probably be the same in 2030 as I will probably spend £7k on double glazing before then and will ne able to claim the MEES for £10k.

Stupid thing is, I would probably do the windows now, but they won't count because the Heat recovery system recommendation comes before the double glazing recommendation.

UKSBD

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82150923#Comment_82150923

Because of the very limited layout it would require a toilet removing, new bath panel, more intricate pipework than standard, possibly new bath, tiling etc.

I believe only the efficiency improvement parts are considered, so although only about £1k is considered for the MEES, it's probably a £2 - £3k job

I could just put the system in, but it makes sense to either do a bath upgrade at same time, or do nothing (remove the shower)

silvercar

Could you disconnect the shower, then get the EPC done before reconnecting the shower? Once you have the EPC you aren't required to get a new one every time you make alterations.

For those suggesting to look ahead to an EPC C by 2030, if that is enforced, the supply to the rental market will be so badly effected that rents will go through the roof. I suspect this will be watered down at some point prior to 2030

FreeBear

I looked at a waste water heat recovery system a couple of years ago. Crunched the numbers and couldn't get any meaningful savings out. Even if I could squeeze £80 per year out of it, the return on investment would be well over ten years.

UKSBD

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82153166#Comment_82153166

Think they are wise to that, if they do an inspection and it is obvious why it was done, it can make the MEES exemption invalid.

UKSBD

More like 20 years (possibly 30) in my case.