How important is EPC when youve got your house up for sale?

[Housenotsoldmom]

As we do have one, due to expire in 3 years time. But its not up to date as when we first had the EPC in 2016 (we had a new boiler fitted in), we didnt have double glazed windows, now we do from 4 years ago.

We can buy a new EPC but is it important? Some estate agents said yes, some said no 🤷‍♀️🤷‍♀️

I’d get one. People do look at them, especially with the ongoing CoL issues.

Very. I wouldn't consider flats/houses with EPC below C.

Doesn't this depend on what the house is going to be used for ?

I though if you are going to rent out you need a C rating in the near future, so if you can bump up a property from a D to a C it will widen your potential sales market.

For the sake of about £70 it's worth getting a new one to reflect the correct energy rating. There will be people who will be put off by a poor rating.

Also, it depends on whether you can bump up a class easily or not.

For example if you were on D at 68 points and adding double glazing and boiler bumps you up one point to C surely that is worth having.

The government site should tell you whether your improvements are likely to bump you up a catagory.

No not renting it out. Selling it. I didnt even knew we had one till last year when we put our house up for sale. There are a few things wrong as the person who fitted the boiler did the EPC didnt ask me any questions. 🤷‍♀️

I believe if you have done some of the suggested improvements you can get an existing EPC upgraded on that basis, but if as you say the original had inaccuracies you are probably better off getting a new one.

Skipton BS are offering free EPCS to their members. The T&Cs suggest you need to be a member at the time of application for the EPC. Worth knowing if you have are intend to open an account with them.

www.skipton.co.uk/epc-plus

Yes, but the person buying it may be considering buying it to rent it out.

An example on the points bump up, mine is currently at 70 (C). To make it a B I have to get 11 points. Which is hard. But if I was at 68 points (D) I could get it to 69 (C) by just replacing the lighting (1 point).

Ive just asked my dh to get a new one. As this is our 2nd estate agent now since June last year. The first one said its not important and youve only got 4 more years left with EPC......i thought 'whhhaaaa?!?'

@GasPanic yes true about the renting out part. Its a D atm

It didn't bother me when we were looking but we were intending on buying a house with improvements needed anyway.

If it's a ready to move into, luxury priced type of house I'd get it updated.

There is no need to have one but make sure your particulars state Boiler upgraded and double glazing fitted since EPC.

Looking on the web, you might get +5 points for double glazing or maybe more.

On my cert it says +2 points for a condensing boiler, but I guess it depends on how old the boiler is you replaced.

So you might get 7 points or more. If your current points are 62 then that could bump you from D to C.

People are getting more aware of this sort of stuff !

I'm looking to buy at the moment and C or above EPC is one of the main things I'm looking for as we're in a horrible cold damp rental that's apparently a D, so I wouldn't buy a D knowing how cold this house is. If your upgrades push it up to a C then I think it's definitely worth getting a new one.