Landlord EPC's part 2
Following on from the previous blog about the stupidity of Labours EPC #C plans, I thought I would do a little more digging into EPCs.
To start with I thought about doing an EPC assessor course. Prices are about £1,000+VAT for an on-line (not taught) course. Pretty steep.
I also looked into whether there's an on-line points calculator - the problem is you have to take the EPC report as gospel and can't challenge it.
If you do a quick search on-line you find horror stories where a property was C. Then the EPC expired requiring a new EPC and the new assessor scored the property "D" - WORSE !!!
The problem is EPC scoring is not transparent - you are in the hands of someone that did an on-line course for 3 days. Has not got a degree in building science and will guess or assume the worst.
The EPC assessors must think we are stupid and won't ask questions....
So in short who knows what the real EPCs of my buildings are.
You can't discuss things with an EPC assessor - "what if I did this". They won't discuss this because they don't know or understand how anything is really calculated.
All my EPCs recommend big ticket items eg solar PV, exterior insulation etc.
So I thought I would look at other solutions
Firstly Heat Recovery systems. These take hot moist air from bathrooms and kitchens, extract the heat and put the warm air back in the house. These add between 1 and 5 EPC points to your EPC.
MVHR stands for Mechanical Ventilation with Heat Recovery
WWHRS stands for Waste Water Heat Recovery System
I am considering MVHR here as they can typically be bought for about £400 and cost about £1,000 to install. Say this gets 3 points on an EPC - that's pretty cost effective - particularly if you're close to the "C" points threshold.
WWHRS are more complex and given most houses nowadays have combi boilers with no cylinders, it's unclear how to put the recovered heat to use.
Wood burning stoves can also contribute EPC points - depends on the assessor (which it shouldn't).
None of my EPC reports cover loft insulation - which is cheap...
50mm scores you EPC 10 points
100mm scores you EPC 13 points
200mm scores you EPC 15 points
270mm scored you EPC 15 points
400mm scores you EPC 16 points
You may find upgrading to 400mm insulation may given you the missing points you need.
If your central heating does not have TRVs (Thermostatic Radiator Valves) on radiators, this might gain you between 2 and 3 EPC points.
If your property has 2 or more floors, it may make sense to have zoned heating - this is where there is a thermostat or temperature control for each floor - which can be different temperatures per floor. In some systems this may be easy to install. Zoned heating control can score you 2-3 EPC points.
By having a chronostat (a thermostat that has timed temperature settings) can get you an extra EPC point.
Installing aircon (heat pump technology) may get you and additional EPC point. DIY aircon systems can be bought for around £1,000.
Positive Input Air ventilation systems may score you an additional EPC point. I installed one as my tenants were complaining about condensation. The system is "smart". Basically it pressurises the house in order that moist air is forced down towards ground level so that the moist air escapes out the front door when it's opened. The system I installed was about £300. It measures the loft temperature and room temperature. If the loft is warm due to solar heating of the loft void and warmer than the house, it will put hot warm loft air into the house. If the loft is cold it won't. Anyway another possible 1 EPC point.
If I find more, I will update the blog.
Basically question all the recommendations in your EPC - there seems to lots of small low cost changes which can get you points here and there.
Sign my petition to make councils and social landlords comply with the same rules as private landlords and stop council tenants living in cold damp homes.
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