AIBU to think that my letting agent should have done this?

[MissPiggyLet]

I rented a new property and moved in around February this year.

Upon moving in, I was not shown an EPC certificate.

I was told that someone would come over at some point to do an energy performance evaluation. The company that was supposed to do this evaluation said they couldn't come over on weekends or after 5 on weekdays. They also refused to give me a specific time that I could get away from work in order to let them in for the evaluation and said they would come on say a Thursday anytime between 10 am and 4 pm

I live alone and I am new to the city- so I don't really have anyone else I can ask to be home and get this done for me.Nor can I just miss work and stay home an entire day to have this done.

As it happens, my sister is visiting the city for a few days and has offered to stay home and finally have this done for me.

When I called the letting agent to set up an appointment with the energy performance engineer, she was rude and said that she couldn't guarantee anything. When I told her that she should have had this done before I moved in anyway, she snapped at me and said that 'tenants have responsibilities too' . When I replied that this should have been shown to me when I signed the tenancy agreement , she said 'well obviously this wasn't done'.

AIBU to think these letting agents have been unprofessional?

And while we are on the subject, can someone explain what an EPC certificate is and what the evaluation involves?

[AgaPanthers]

Letting agents are parasitical egotistical cunts. I'm afraid you will have to get used to it.

The EPC certificate is some sort of completely useless energy assessment showing how efficient your house is.

[thatstoast]

An epc isn't very useful if your renting. More useful if you're buying but still not that important.

I'm not surprised they don't want to send anyone round. When I was younger I rented a flat and the back door fell off. I rang every day for four days until they sent someone to fix it.

[RabbitSaysWoof]

As far as I was aware EPC's are for sale properties, they came into force with the old home information packs which were later scrapped but the EPC part remained.
You cant sell a house without an energy performance cert, but I'm pretty sure you can legally rent one. As far as I know the only thing aside from a signed agreement that you need buy law is a yearly gas safety certificate, if you dont have one of these go to the agent and demand one (though I'm not an expert I am a secretary at an estate agent but our lettings dept are pretty self contained).

[MissPiggyLet]

AgaPanthers - Hahahahaha

[MissPiggyLet]

So the EPC isn't that important?

I won't worry too much about it then.

[500smiles]

Agatha not all of us are

[500smiles]

Agapanthers that should say DYAC

[Joysmum]

Yes you do need an EPC to rent out a house and yes you should have had it before you moved in but it really means bugger all. You as the tenant can't do anything to affect it anyway.

I'd be more concerned about the professionalism of your agents if they are managing your let because you'll need to deal with them for the duration if so. If they aren't then I'm glad for you.

[MissPiggyLet]

For repairs and such I am required to reach out to the landlord directly and not the letting agency.

But they really were supposed to get the EPC sorted before I moved in and now they're being rather rude with me about it.

[loveisagirlnameddaisy]

Not only are the agents being unprofessional, they are also in breach of regulations which state an EPC must be available to a prospective tenant prior to letting a property or a fine of £200 can be levied.

An EPC once you've moved in is pretty useless. It's supposed to inform you as to the energy efficiency of a property before you move in so that you have all the facts before you.

IMO, many (but not all) lettings agents are woefully under informed on LL/tenancy law.

[MissPiggyLet]

does this mean that I can charge them for not having this done??

[loveisagirlnameddaisy]

If you google 'EPC landlord' you will find numerous links to the relevant info. You may want to email the smug agent a link.

[stiffstink]

I bet they charged your landlord for it!

[MrsWinnibago]

Tell the bloody agent to wait in....they should have had it sorted out!

[FatherDickByrne]

Sorry but I second AgaPanthers. Some letting agents are v unpleasant. I was consistently bullied by one who really didn't like the fact that I wouldn't let him walk all over me (wrt my mattress being covered in mould after 6 months in a basement flat!). A woman from the local council advised me not to mess with him as 'he has more experience' ie would always win. It still makes my blood boil 2 years down the line.

[lastnightIwenttoManderley]

We're moving away for DHs job for a period of time and renting our house out. Threads like this are the reason we decided not to use an agent! Even i know you need an EPC to let a place out but agree they're pretty useless

[pluCaChange]

I'd be most annoyed about that "tenants have responsibilities too." What is that supposed to mean? You haven't done anything wrong; the LA has, and is being defensive and rude to someone she considers unimportant enough to be rude to.

Let your LL know the EPC was never done, mention that the LA were rude (but just a mention, not a rant), and just never contact the LA again. It's also worth saying to the LL that when the time comes to renew your tenancy, you'd prefer to do it directly with him/her, rather than paying the rude and useless LA a "renewal fee" for a bit of printing.

[whois]

EPC not important at all - don't worry about taking time off for it.

Things that ARE important:

1. Gas safety certificate
   
2. Inventory checked, initialed and returned by you with any comments keeping a copy
   
3. Contract.
   
4. Confirmation that your deposit is in the protection scheme.