EPC’s – Preparing for the changes – What can be done?

WORK WITH YOUR LANDLORDS

We continue with the theme of EPC’s as we can see this is going to be on a lot of landlords minds.. It certainly is on ours! The key thing is to be ready, organised and have a plan in place.

CHECK THE AGE OF THE EPC

We recommend looking at the age of the EPC. Certificates are valid for 10 years, so a nine-year old EPC will need to be renewed. This will also shed more light on the energy performance of the property as well as taking into account any recent improvements to the property that might influence the rating.

CHECK FOR ERRORS ON THE EPC

Check the EPC as there may be errors. A common example is the assessor selecting the wrong description for the walls. Another example is when describing the heating control if the assessor cannot see the wall mounted thermostat, they will select TRVs and bypass but not include Programmer which can make a few points difference. Additionally, if the loft is not accessible then the assessor will assume it is not insulated so ensure they can access it when doing the assessment.

TAKE PHOTOS AND KEEP RECEIPTS OF IMPROVEMENT WORK

When carrying out improvements to the property take photos and keep receipts as this information could be needed when renewing the EPC.

SCOPE THE TYPE OF WORK REQUIRED

Once analysis has been done of properties across the portfolio consider whether any improvement works will need planning permission. Additionally, do tenants need to vacate the property or can the work be done with the tenant remaining in their home.

THINK ABOUT WHAT IS MOST COST-EFFECTIVE

It might be cost effective to make several changes at the same time to reduce labour and material costs. For example, can insulation, new windows, and heating systems be done in one fell swoop, rather than individually.

LOOK AT ALL AVENUES OF FUNDING

Depending on the landlord’s and tenant’s circumstances, as well as the type of property, small pockets of funding are available. Additionally, many local councils are working with other bodies to access funding and there may be funding available to property owners to assist with energy efficiency measures. Contact the local Housing Standards Team for help and advice. See Funding section in this document for further details.

TAKE ADVANTAGE OF QUICK WINS

Check to see if all low-cost improvements measures at the property have been carried out, such as LED light bulbs, loft insulation or draught proofing to improve the property’s EPC rating.

January 2022