Energy Performance Certificates

country_sport

Slightly off topic, I produce HIPs for a number of agents and solicitors and currently on my forth EPC inspector after serious complaints from sellers about there EPCs.
All the inspectors where accredited by NHER. Not knowing very much about how EPC inspector are "vetted" and how often by these bodies, i would be very interested i know what is done, if anything, to rid the industry of crap inspectors.
So far nothing has been done about my complaints and i have had to pay for the EPC again after the other inspectors disappeared without trace.

chriserenity

country_sport wrote: »

Slightly off topic, I produce HIPs for a number of agents and solicitors and currently on my forth EPC inspector after serious complaints from sellers about there EPCs.

All the inspectors where accredited by NHER. Not knowing very much about how EPC inspector are "vetted" and how often by these bodies, i would be very interested i know what is done, if anything, to rid the industry of crap inspectors.
So far nothing has been done about my complaints and i have had to pay for the EPC again after the other inspectors disappeared without trace.

I'm not surprised. The barrier to entry for DEAdom is non-existant apart from having enough money to do the training/take the exams. If I were you I'd ask not only who the DEA is licenced with but also who they trained with. Good names are Elmhurst Energy, SAVA, BRE are good I think.

DEAs are vetted in different ways with different licencing schemes of which there are about 4 or 5. My accreditation scheme Elmhurst Energy which has a good tenure in energy assessment takes a sample of about 5% of my reports and makes me submit my 'site notes' for auditing. A fifth of these EPCs are then re-inspected from scratch to compare my findings with an independent judgement.

Apart from this ongoing evaluation most DEAs have to complete a 'portfolio' of 5-10 EPCs before the examiners will sign them off as OK. My own experience of this was quite stringent but like I said above about the barrier to entry being non-existant for DEAs the barrier to entry for training providers is also non-existent! Everyone has to be CRB checked and take the same exams though which many people do fail (present company excluded of course :rotfl:).

Gorgeous_George

Just another £50 to add to the rent over the ten years - about 30p per month.

Not a problem. Of course, what will happen is that every ten years we will need significantly more EPC assessors than for the rest of the time. I'm arranging mine this week to avoid the rush!

GG

mandm65

How did you get on with your EPC assessment? It would helpful to know the outcome and perhaps contact details.
thanks

Bungarm2001

Well this thread has been very interesting to read, and believe me, I have read every line, followed all links and my tea is now stone cold.

Much kudos to Mr Lane for his very very comprehensive explanations of this latest useless bit of interfering legislation. But I am not convinced and I will most certainly not be rushing out anytime soon to get an EPC. ALL our properties have new boilers, most condensing plus all have loft insulation and other insulation where appropriate and convenient and fully double glazed.

I and my tenants do not need to be disturbed and/or out of pocket to have some penpusher with dodgy 'qualifications' coming round to spend hours ticking off a few boxes on a form. I could do that meself. Lets see whether one of our tenants actually asks to see a certificate. Price of bacon would go up.

Right...off to put the kettle on again....

chriserenity

Well regardless of whether or not you believe in the merits of EPCs I wouldn't advise leaving it till the last minute to get them in place particularly if you are a landlord with multiple properties.

As a landlord you need to have the EPC in place if you want to continue marketing a void property after October 1st and for new tenancies with a new tenant starting after this date as well. Look on the bright side though, you only have to commission the EPC once every 10 years.

Bungarm2001

Until I actually get threatened with some sort of legal action, or one of my future tenants actually asks for a certificate, believe me, I will not be rushing out to comply with this totally unneccessary bit of legislation dreamed up by the backroom boys at the ODPM. It's yet another thinly disguised tax on LL's, no more no less.

chriserenity

Bungarm2001 wrote: »

Until I actually get threatened with some sort of legal action, or one of my future tenants actually asks for a certificate, believe me, I will not be rushing out to comply with this totally unneccessary bit of legislation dreamed up by the backroom boys at the ODPM. It's yet another thinly disguised tax on LL's, no more no less.

Well, thats entirely your perogative of course. Just so you're in possession of all the facts though, if you're caught in contravention of the EPBD rules you face a £200 fine per day per property enforced by local trading standards officers.

I do sympathise with landlords on the various things you need to pay for, but don't feel you've been unduly targeted with this - every significant building in Europe will need EPCs by the close of 2009. Including commercial premises, public buildings, factories, social housing etc etc. EPCs weren't dreamed up by some guy in our government in other words. They were dreamed up by some guy in the EU parliament :rotfl:

I'm entirely pro EPC though. As a practicing energy assessor I've seen the effect its had on the residential sales i've had dealings with - i've had prospective buyers call me about properties they are considering purchasing and judging by the enquiries we've had over the past months from your fellow landlords I wouldn't be surprised if you're in the minority on this. Lots of letting agents are already geared up for EPCs and we've done quite a few pre October rental EPCs already.

Tassotti

As a LL, I am more concerned with the safety of my tenants than spending out money on a rediculous tax like 'how efficient are my lightbulbs' essentially

mandm65

i think somehow i manage to reignite an interesting debate, no news from GG re his EPC assessment?