Updating post from Reddit.
Curious question - i've seen an minimum EPC standard change is coming for landlords. Is anyone worried about this? How are people thinking of dealing with it or managing it? I know its been kicked down the road for a few years but it seems to actually be coming into affect now.
I feel like most ways to raise an EPC standard are prohibitively expensive - has anyone done it and seen a benefit?
Nah. They’re reforming it next year I think? Plan is to either get it done under the old regs or new and then give it ten years
what do you mean give it 10 years?
It'll be valid 10 years
I put in LEDs and a boiler jacket and went up to a C which is valid for 10 years and I'll sell up long before that.
My property only has electric. Great, you’d think. Except the one major thing that would elevate it to the requisite level is for it to have a gas boiler, so I understand. Ironic really.
Should be changing next year under the new regs
Thank you. I thought I was going to get caught out on this.
I ignored recommendations on EPC, carried out more cost effective works, mine all made a C by condensing boiler with thermistatic time clock and TRVs, loft insulation, LED lighting, double glazing. The one I had thermalined (insulation backed plasterboard) scored slightly less than the otherwise identical house with a newer flat roof. Roof insulation is the most important factor, that is where most of the heat is lost
If you can't have any of these done to your house you need to show your working for an exemption
The government has said it is going to change the EPC rating system before it brings in a new minimum standard for rented property so no one really knows how the new system is going to work. The minimum standard won’t necessarily be the same as the current C rating. I think I read somewhere that the new system will come in about 2028 so there’s no immediate rush.
I'm slightly worried as it appears it'll make listed and heritage properties not suitable for EPC-improving works unsuitable for rental, which is a shame. There are vague whisperings about exemptions but this has yet to materialise.
It will either be impossible to comply without spoiling listed properties or spending a fortune, or it'll be a meaningless white wash.
Either way, I hope at least some of the stupidity is removed such as having to upgrade a "electric only" house with a gas boiler to get more points or any other insanity.
>there are vague whisperings about exemptions but this has yet to materialise
I changed all the windows and insulated the loft and stuck in cavity insulation. Now a B.
I always find it odd that a landlords main asset is not the rent but the property and yet many are total wrecks with no investment. I think that is nuts. My approach is "would I be prepared to live here?". If the answer is no then you're a scumbag imo.
So, to answer the question - I am delighted slum landlords will either have to sell or improve properties for people just trying to get by.
Nope if enforced as is hundreds of thousands of people will be homeless overnight
I'd rather sell if the cost to continue renting property becomes stupidly expensive. Not willing to spend 10k on insulation or solar for tenants to save peanuts. If I can get it passed the line for cavity wall insulation and thicker insulation in the loft that's fine but if they enforce really ridiculous levels of insulation then it's selling up.
Talking with heating engineers they say heat pumps arnt suitable for many older housing stock and one engineer whom use to install these systems said many older properties it costs 25k and some owners asked for it to be removed after their costs trippled. He also said the government arnt listening to industry experts on the matter which is concerning in itself.
UK contributes less than 1% of global emissions but our government signs upto net zero to show other countries the importance of global warming. All very nice but I don't feel these potential huge costs to make a point to countries that literally don't give a fuck is something I'm happy about tbh. Let's change UK to a third world country by pricing our inhabitants huge costs for changes that will make little difference so those poor countries can become rich on the back of doing fuck all and make record profits, nice one Mr. Milliband whom I assume has loads of money for all these changes he advocates.
All mine are C. Simplest thing is point out insulation etc provide ladders. Need to ensure that any replacement gas boiler won’t make it worse.
You’d be surprised how hard it is to get older stone brick buildings from a D to a C.
If your worried get one done ASAP, they are valid for like 10 Years.
Yup. One of my flats is 1960s build and all electric. I've done all the obvious things and its still EPC D. There's no realistic way to get it higher under current regs. About all that could be done is exterior cladding (which I will not get permission for) or interior, which is not possible on a small flat, as it would involve moving doors and windows.
If the rules come in and it's still the same I'll have to evict the long term-tenant and sell.
"it seems to actually be coming into affect now."
I doubt that. If the law actually came in there would be millions homeless.
Everything I have is C or above, worried for the tenants, it will have a devastating effect on them
Nah don't give a fuck really.
The consensus seems to be , if they bring the new EPC ruling in for landlords , it will be the final nail in the coffin for the private rental market .
Estimates say people will just sell up, I would imagine just the very thought of it has made many landlords sell.
The UK has a huge amount of older properties , it would not be feasible economically to upgrade a property for £6000 to £10,000 when a property may only be worth £150,000 (not every house in the UK is big money or a new build ) and this would be if you could find the tradesmen to do them all.
There is a reason the conservatives put it on the back-boiler.
Be very interesting to see where the government will be placing all these people who will be given notice, if they go through with it.
Maybe in hotels 😨