My EPC certificate has miraculously jumped two levels higher......just as my landlord needed it to

[AheartybowlofJan]

EPC done 2 years ago. They last for 10 years.

Landlord wants to renew my contract so he can put the rent up. Can’t renew the contract as EPC was on a G. You can’t rent a G rated property anymore as they aren’t energy efficient and have to be an E as a minimum.

Behold my LL calling to say he’s having another EPC done. Even though this one has 8 years left on it.

And would you believe it, despite having no work done to it at all, property has been rated an E

And would you believe it even further but I facebooked the man who did the certificate and lo and behold he’s friends with the owner of the letting agents. Outstanding.

Should say you can still rent on a G but you can’t issue a new contract or renew unless it’s an E

.

Can you raise your converns with your letting agent (if they manage the property) or if not, the property ombudsman?

Maybe one for trading standards?

I’m looking into the ombudsman this morning. It’s ridiculous they can do this!

Phone whatever organisation it is that oversees EPC assessments. But bear in mind that if they do something about it and get the rating changed back to G, your landlord could end up evicting you anyway (illegal but it happens all the time).

Fucker.

I’ve just looked at the certificate.

3 stars for “some double glazing” - there is no double glazing anywhere in my house!

5 stars for “all low energy lighting” - flatly untrue

Loft insulation has apparently also installed itself

That's flat out fraud.

I suggest you contact this organisation:
www.epcregister.com/information.html

You could email them scanned copies of the old and new certificate and tell them what you've told us (ie no changes made, no double glazing, no insulation etc).

Also, you don't have to sign a new tenancy agreement. The old one will remain valid (it becomes a periodic tenancy ie one month rolling contract).

Contact anyone on the Council who has anything to do with private renting and contact and then CC your MP. Your milage might vary depending on MP but this is an out and out scam that hurts anyone who privately rents.

I can see the logic behind contacting a council tenancy relations officer, but the local MP - seriously?! There are other options to try first.

I hope you report this! I'm a LL (first time) and bought a G property. We nearly lost our sanity getting to E with electric suppliers and copious insulation requirements. The property is 400yrs old though so not straightforward and will be our retirement home (hence we bought it for us in the future It's too small presently so we rent ourselves - anyway I digress!).

The EPC guy was extremely helpful and nice but would not issue the new one until he'd checked we'd done everything single thing on the list and he took photos for proof.

It is a good thing for tenants and unfair if others are playing the system like this.