EPC- where is the cheapest?

[porridge]

Watford area- just been offered an EPC to be done for £99 + vat, is there anyway of getting this done cheaper? (watford)

[jeffrey]

Watford area- just been offered an EPC to be done for £99 + vat, is there anyway of getting this done cheaper? (watford)
Watford? Be careful- there are rogue Conservative parliamentary candidates in those parts.

[porridge]

Watford? Be careful- there are rogue Conservative parliamentary candidates in those parts.

Good, hopefully get rid of a waste of space labour MP

[jeffrey]

Good, hopefully get rid of a waste of space labour MP
Nah, the oddball who hit the news was battling the LibDem.

[Sorrel]

getting all mine done for £69 inc vat but it would be too far to travel for my guy! :p

[Rodent1]

Have had offer of £80 from paragon mortgages , emails offering £60 with ..i think netrent......Local guy advertising at £50 .......another guy offered £45 and today £40 for 30 props .............have joined forces with other local LL and now have nearly 200 props "on the table" .....with the "multiple" epc ...available we are now looking to drive this price down even further £20 is a reasonable fig IMHO ...

Now a dea is going to give us a lecture on reg fees etc !!!!!!!!!!



The Rodent

[ste.ve]

Nah, knock yerself out Rodent. Get it as cheap as you can, but remember if you pay peanuts you get monkeys:p. I'm after work but we all need to make a profit so I have my minimum deal but I'd never go as cheap as your after.

[Rodent1]

A large invoice for a pretty worthless wad of paper doesn't sit to well with me, at all ....as long as the monkey can give me my "ticket" then a monkey is fine by me !!!!

Out of interest is there a central register for epc's or can we just photo copy our own ?..................hmmmmmmm !!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The Rodent

[Sorrel]

Unfortunately Im sure they have a central register. Just get a couple of felt tip pens and make your own, I suppose if nowt else they're pretty to look at

[davidjpowell]

Have had offer of £80 from paragon mortgages , emails offering £60 with ..i think netrent......Local guy advertising at £50 .......another guy offered £45 and today £40 for 30 props .............have joined forces with other local LL and now have nearly 200 props "on the table" .....with the "multiple" epc ...available we are now looking to drive this price down even further £20 is a reasonable fig IMHO ...

Now a dea is going to give us a lecture on reg fees etc !!!!!!!!!!



The Rodent

Exactly why I decided not to go down the RICS training route for commercial EPC. The people doing them at this sort of level are not going to be around forever. At that stage it might be an interesting oppertunity. However I think most of the software providers make some sort of charge on a case by case basis - I suspect at £20 the assessor would be covering not a lot!

[Sportingdad]

You are allowed to make your own EPC, so it's only a matter of time before you can buy them like golf handicap cards that you get on ebay.

So imagine you have a thatched cottage and in the recommend box for saving the planet you enter

1 No solar panels/wind turbines would suggest installed at a cost of say 5 grand saving £100 a year payback time 50 years.
2 roof needs insulation
3 windows need double/triple glazing
4 block off roaring fireplace-install underfloor heating from wood/compost fire in garden.

So on a scale of A to E this house will be E, goverment/trading standards will be happy and the would be tenant in 90% of the time will be clueless.

More laws and rules that are worthless..but it keeps some cosy civil servant in a cosy job somewhere

[Richardo]

I'm not sure why a document that advises a prospective tenant of the energy efficiency of a property should be described as worthless?

Rising energy costs are a real concern for those on lower incomes, who unsurprisingly make up 100% of my tenants in 8 properties.

Also for those landlords who accept housing benefit tenants, expect your LA to take more than a passing interest in the energy rating. Why should tenants have to pay high energy bills because their landlord won't spend half a month's rent on a few simple measures to improve the energy efficiency of their property?

Landlordzone is a website for professional and responsible landlords. Please could we keep it that way?

[Sportingdad]

Landlordzone is a website for professional and responsible landlords. Please could we keep it that way?

Sir, everyone on this site is entitled to a view, I believe the whole hips/epc has done nothing for the housing process, HIPs has not speeded up the buying process, I cannot see that a tenant deciding on which property to rent when there are far too many other varables, namely location, standard of property/decor, number of bedrooms, furn or un, rent, parking, bus routes etc. etc.

As a responsible landlord I supply properties that are clean/warm however I generally do not go to the lower end of the scale and will not label my properties like fridges.....

[hip-consultant.co.uk]

I'm not sure why a document that advises a prospective tenant of the energy efficiency of a property should be described as worthless?

Rising energy costs are a real concern for those on lower incomes, who unsurprisingly make up 100% of my tenants in 8 properties.

Also for those landlords who accept housing benefit tenants, expect your LA to take more than a passing interest in the energy rating. Why should tenants have to pay high energy bills because their landlord won't spend half a month's rent on a few simple measures to improve the energy efficiency of their property?

Landlordzone is a website for professional and responsible landlords. Please could we keep it that way?

Well said!!!

I have been suprised by some of the comments on the forum in regard to EPCs and it does not reflect Landlords views as a whole IMO. The large majority of Landlords we work with and speak with are understanding of the legislation and aims.

[hip-consultant.co.uk]

I cannot see that a tenant deciding on which property to rent when there are far too many other varables, namely location, standard of property/decor, number of bedrooms, furn or un, rent, parking, bus routes etc. etc.

As a responsible landlord I supply properties that are clean/warm however I generally do not go to the lower end of the scale and will not label my properties like fridges.....

The EPC will become another selling point and variable as you describe within a property marketed for the rental market and will be considered by tenants.

For responsible landlords there is no need to worry. The EPC is not massively expensive and will go towards further proving the upkeep and condition of your properties is of importance to you.

Most properties can be made warm - it is the cost and CO2 implications that is considered when achieving that warmth with the EPC.

[Sportingdad]

will be considered by tenants. rubbish

You have a vested interest in promoting these, having spoken to 30+ "finger on the pulse" Landlords the feeling is wait and see and they expect that it will be one of many requirements that are just lost in the sea of paperwork.

Having said "The large majority of Landlords we work with and speak with are understanding of the legislation and aims" well they would do, they are speaking to a hip-consultant about EPC's....

So what are you views on DIY EPC's ? which make the requirements :rolleyes: even more laughable ?

[mind the gap]

I'm not sure why a document that advises a prospective tenant of the energy efficiency of a property should be described as worthless?

Rising energy costs are a real concern for those on lower incomes, who unsurprisingly make up 100% of my tenants in 8 properties.

Also for those landlords who accept housing benefit tenants, expect your LA to take more than a passing interest in the energy rating. Why should tenants have to pay high energy bills because their landlord won't spend half a month's rent on a few simple measures to improve the energy efficiency of their property?

Landlordzone is a website for professional and responsible landlords. Please could we keep it that way?

Excellent points, well put. As a landlord I view it as my responsibility, as well as good business sense, to reduce the carbon footprint of the proerties from which I make my money. People can kick and scream about their profits being eroded,but it's tough. In the end they will have to reduce energy-wastage whether they like it or not. They might as well just get on with it.

[mind the gap]

By way of evidence of the winds of change - the six tenants who have just signed up for one of our student houses made a point of asking the current tenants how much the energy bills were and they had done so, for purposes of comparison, in the several properties they had viewed.

Our house came out looking good for its size because it has a gas combi boiler which is 93% efficient, thermostatic radiator valves, double glazing, maxiumum possible roof insulation (mandatory when loft conversion done), draught exclusion measures and low energy light bulbs wherever possible. These things do make a difference and will do so increasingly as energy prices continue to rise. As they will.

Before this year, prospective tenants were only ever interested in where the nearest supermarket was and whether the house had wireless broadband in every room.

[Sportingdad]

Our house came out looking good for its size because it has a gas combi boiler which is 93% efficient room.

I'm not a Corgi plumber but i think you will find that combi boliers are 70-80% efficient, and the new condensing boilers are 90% I hope for your Students you fitted the correct boiler.

[mind the gap]

Sorry, yes, I did mean a condensing one. I personally didn't fit it (you'll be glad to learn!)

[hip-consultant.co.uk]

rubbish

You have a vested interest in promoting these,


Yes, obviously. I make no secret of it. However, i really believe in the aims of reducing CO2 through the EPC.

Also, as some of the posts above demonstrate well,you have a vested interest in improving the energy efficiency of your properties. IMO if you work with this legislation you will benefit.

If we use the figures of an EPC costing £100 and validitiy of 10years that equates to about 83p per month.

[jeffrey]

But could one not simply reduce energy consumption unilaterally, without having to pay £100 to do it?

[mind the gap]

But could one not simply reduce energy consumption unilaterally, without having to pay £100 to do it?

Doubtful. One could, but one probably wouldn't. People are pretty lazy, and even if landlords were minded to set to and instal energy-saving devices left right and centre, prospective tenants wouldn't have anything as objective (as an EPC) by which to compare properties in terms of energy usage. Asking to see the previous year's bills is a start, but tenants vary a lot in their wastefulness (or frugality). An EPC reflects the energy efficiency of the property itself (rather than property+ current tenants).

How many landlord would have voluntarily brought their properties up to HMO standards without being required to do so?!

It would be a good incentive if landlords who implemented the recommendations of their EPC could claim a refund on the cost of the certificate.

[hip-consultant.co.uk]

It would be a good incentive if landlords who implemented the recommendations of their EPC could claim a refund on the cost of the certificate.

I am involved with various groups etc and have never come accross that suggestion - FANTASTIC IDEA. I will be certainly be putting that suggestion forward if you dont mind.

There is of course the Landlords Energy Saving Allowance (http://www.hip-consultant.co.uk/blog/2008/06/14/landlords-epcs-support-with-recommendations/) (LESA) which i feel needs to be promoted more. I am suprised that there does not seem to be alot of awarenesss of this taxable allowance by the landlords we have worked with to date.

[Rodent1]

Yes, obviously. I make no secret of it.
If we use the figures of an EPC costing £100 and validitiy of 10years that equates to about 83p per month.

What is the carbon footprint involved in epa travelling to property ..added to LL/LA travelling to property ...the enegy that goes into producing report printing , central database etc ,,,,,,,,........

I have a far better idea ........It is well documented that the human race is the rgreatest producer of co2 purely thru breathing ......so take all of the unnecessary EPAs and their paperwork ...gas them with their own BS , then use the soory corpses to fuel the burners that run the generatos that supply the national grid .....saves on fossil fuels/oil/gas as well ....

This will have a much more dramatic effect on reducing co2 ad probably methane as well .............

So any matyrs out there !!!!!!!!!


Only kidding .........or am i?


The Rodent

[mind the gap]

So any matyrs out there !!!!!!!!!

Are they like satyrs?

[jeffrey]

Are they like satyrs?
You say tomatyrs
And I say tomartyrs...

[Richard Webster]

As a Southerner I would say "tomartyrs" but I would expect Jeffrey as a Yorkshireman to say "tomatyrs"!

[Rodent1]

What is the carbon footprint involved in epa travelling to property ..added to LL/LA travelling to property ...the enegy that goes into producing report printing , central database etc ,,,,,,,,........

I have a far better idea ........It is well documented that the human race is the rgreatest producer of co2 purely thru breathing ......so take all of the unnecessary EPAs and their paperwork ...gas them with their own BS , then use the soory corpses to fuel the burners that run the generatos that supply the national grid .....saves on fossil fuels/oil/gas as well ....

This will have a much more dramatic effect on reducing co2 ad probably methane as well .............

So any matyrs out there !!!!!!!!!


Only kidding .........or am i?


The Rodent

sorry guys ..that was of course meant to be maRtyr..cont be bothered to mention the other Gram/spelling errors !!!
The Rodent

[Mrs Jones]

With all this discussion re EPC and carbon footprints etc. etc. you might like to take a look at this. A new book called 'The Deniers' has been published.

You may be interested in the review here:

http://www.heartland.org/Article.cfm?artId=23701

[mind the gap]

With all this discussion re EPC and carbon footprints etc. etc. you might like to take a look at this. A new book called 'The Deniers' has been published.

You may be interested in the review here:

http://www.heartland.org/Article.cfm?artId=23701
Unfortunately this rave review of the book is written by a leading light of of the Heartland Institute - the very guys who published it.

[kiaora]

Surely saving planets resources are good thing !

maybe you do not agree with govt that you need to have a paper to show how good/bad is your property . But at least is the start .

Once you know the problem you MIGHT , at the time of major refurbishment , do something towards it.

As a property consultants , surveyor/project manager , I point out to both landlords and home owners how these reports can benefit them and ways to make money from them . Note please beware of cheap EPC , use an experience property guy with correct PI and you would not regret it

Do not knock epc use it wisely and you will get ££££ :D

[Rodent1]

But could one not simply reduce energy consumption unilaterally, without having to pay £100 to do it?


I have several houses where i rent by room by room . I pay ct gas elect and water charges .
I really Pxxxxs me off that whenever i go to one of these props the lights are left on the windows are open ...and the CH is on full tilt ...yes even in the middle of summer ..........AND NO ONE IS EVEN IN ...they are all in work...

Why cos some donut wants his socks on the radiator to bee dry when he gets home from work ........

I am seriously considering locking the boiler in cupboard and puttingheating on for just 2 hours am and 4 hrs pm ..........only problem with this ..is last time i did it (with previous T) they just use 2kw fan heaters and rack up the lecky bill instead of the gas bill ......

Yes i would love to save energy ....but this kinda thing really doesn't help ...!!!
I use low e bulbs as i am paying the bill....


The Rodent

[jeffrey]

Easy answer: don't include gas/electricity in the rent but make T pay suppliers direct. T will soon learn how to economise!

[hippacksdartford.com]

Surely saving planets resources are good thing !

maybe you do not agree with govt that you need to have a paper to show how good/bad is your property . But at least is the start .

Once you know the problem you MIGHT , at the time of major refurbishment , do something towards it.

As a property consultants , surveyor/project manager , I point out to both landlords and home owners how these reports can benefit them and ways to make money from them . Note please beware of cheap EPC , use an experience property guy with correct PI and you would not regret it

Do not knock epc use it wisely and you will get ££££ :D

As I am a hip and epc provider I must agree that you must use a fully insured and accreditted provider this would give you peace of mind that you are using a PROFFESIONAL not a cowboy to do a bodge job of your epc . If the cowboy gets it wrong and says your property will cost your tennant £x to heat your property and it actually costs your tennant double Who is going to have a tennant at the end of it all?

[mind the gap]

As I am a hip and epc provider I must agree that you must use a fully insured and accreditted provider this would give you peace of mind that you are using a PROFFESIONAL not a cowboy to do a bodge job of your epc . If the cowboy gets it wrong and says your property will cost your tennant £x to heat your property and it actually costs your tennant double Who is going to have a tennant at the end of it all?

It would create a better, more professional impression if you spelt 'accredited', 'professional' and 'tenant' correctly, and punctuated your written communication...

[Rodent1]

Easy answer: don't include gas/electricity in the rent but make T pay suppliers direct. T will soon learn how to economise!


Great theory Jeffrey.....but when letting on a room by room basis ...people coming and going on a regular basis .....it is not at all practical .....nor attractive for prospective T to be asked to take joint responsibilty with other total strangers who are on seperate asts .....

The Rodent

[mind the gap]

Great theory Jeffrey.....but when letting on a room by room basis ...people coming and going on a regular basis .....it is not at all practical .....nor attractive for prospective T to be asked to take joint responsibilty with other total strangers who are on seperate asts .....

The Rodent

Just out of interest, Rodent, how much do you charge/allow/reckon on (as a proportion of the rent) specifically for energy bills?

The 'student let' bills packages two years ago used to reckon on £5-6 per person per week, but they suddenly disappeared (unsurprisingly). The company offering these 'all inclusive' deals in Newcastle went bust and you cannot get thme now for love nor money.

Jeffrey's right - if you pay the bills, they WILL leave the heating on and the windows open. Assuming the absence of a eco-conscience, what incentive do they have to be frugal?

[Rodent1]

Other than submetering each room and putting the lounge on a token meter i cannot see antother way >>>>>>>????????

I allow:
Water £600 pa(fixed cost)
Council Tax £1200 pa(fixed cost)
Gas £1000pa
Electricity £1000pa
Plus "some" £800

Dont get involved in TV license, Internet or phones (altho more than happy for t to install if they wish ....have some 6 bed props with 4 sep connections/accs for bb.tv/phone)


which is £300 pcm

Then work this into rent .....which works out at around £50 per room per mth ....

To date this covers it with room to spare !!!

But not sure for how much longer?

I do not break down these figs for T just charge an all inclusive proce....which they very much prefer .........i am far from the cheapest in the area ...but T will pay extra to have a nice prop, lovely LL and no "sxxx" over bills with strangers

I only do this on shared houses where i let on room by room basis NOT when group on a single ast .............the messes i have had to sort out previously has given my a drawer full of T shirts on this .....would be interested to hear how anyone else "bills" utilities in this situation ???

The Rodent

[Bel]

How about a free beer at the end of every month if they keep the meter reading below xxxx

[mind the gap]

How about a free beer at the end of every month if they keep the meter reading below xxxx

Then some would start demanding Pinot Grigio or Jack Daniels instead of beer. Give an inch, etc.

[Rodent1]

How about a free beer at the end of every month if they keep the meter reading below xxxx

Aye ... A bottle of ginger beer and 6 straws .........

The Rodent

[Bel]

How about a star chart? They may find those gold stars irresistable

[Rodent1]

No way ...that would just encourage them to continue ..living on another planet ..


The Rodent

[Distressedtenant]

I'm sure I've seen an EPC for 35 quid somewhere..?

[mind the gap]

I'm sure I've seen an EPC for 35 quid somewhere..? Your point (if there is one), eludes me, I'm afraid.

[jeffrey]

Your point (if there is one), eludes me, I'm afraid.
A coincidence: the point of an EPC similarly eludes me!

[mind the gap]

A coincidence: the point of an EPC similarly eludes me!

Really? I would never have known.:rolleyes:

[maxh]

A coincidence: the point of an EPC similarly eludes me!

It does seem rather pointless. Considering it isn't even a full report!

[mind the gap]

It does seem rather pointless. Considering it isn't even a full report!

:confused:A full report on WHAT?

[jeffrey]

A full report on WHAT?
He/she means 'a full structural survey'.

[Wickerman]

Just out of interest, Rodent, how much do you charge/allow/reckon on (as a proportion of the rent) specifically for energy bills?

The 'student let' bills packages two years ago used to reckon on £5-6 per person per week, but they suddenly disappeared (unsurprisingly). The company offering these 'all inclusive' deals in Newcastle went bust and you cannot get thme now for love nor money.

Jeffrey's right - if you pay the bills, they WILL leave the heating on and the windows open. Assuming the absence of a eco-conscience, what incentive do they have to be frugal?

MTG - try Glide. They do inclusive packages.

I figure on between 6 and 7 pounds per person for 3 tenants and up.

[mind the gap]

MTG - try Glide. They do inclusive packages.

I figure on between 6 and 7 pounds per person for 3 tenants and up.

I'm amazed that £6-7 still covers it all. Students in joint tenancies of 4+ in various sizes and types of private houses/flats have told me that they have to allow at least £10 each per week for energy and water bills.

[bargainhunter]

hi,

i just put my house on the market for rent with an estate agent and they said i required an energy performance certificate (epc). they said it will cost £99 + vat if they do it but i thought i'd do some research before agreeing. there's loads of companies offering to do them for about £40 but the hidden charges are a joke! i eventually found a local company to my flat who did it for £50! and there was no vat or hidden charges. i recommend ou all search google for the best price and use a local company. the agents are just out there to make extra cash (not that they dont get enough from the high commission rates!!!) my property was in e14 so i searched epc in e14 and it came up with fasttrackepc.com.

my flat was a 2 bedroom so im not sure what the charges would be for a larger flat but to be honest i would'nt pay more than £50 no matter who it was!

good luck and hope you dont give in to the agents!! :)

[maxh]

Anyone else noticed a large price difference between Landlord and residential EPC's?

[mind the gap]

Anyone else noticed a large price difference between Landlord and residential EPC's?

No, not really. The biggest price difference is between EPCs commissioned by the LL independently of a letting/estate agent and those commissioned by an agent on behalf of a LL/vendor, since the agent will always want his cut. For example, a DEA will charge £50-70 for an EPC; the LL or vendor is typically charged £90-130 by the agent for 'arranging' an EPC. All the agent has done is make one phone call and possibly handed over a key to the DEA. More money for old rope.

Ring a DEA direct!