Elmhurst - challenging an EPC

[InTheWaitingRoom]

Has anyone had an experience with Elmhurst Energy/consultancy? Or given an EPC rating that you challenged?

I own my home, but i have disabled sons so I was able to access Warmer Works to carry out energy efficiency works for free, a single ply roof installation on a small flat roof part of the house, new front door and electronic vents. I have paid for cladding with external insulation, internal insulation boards, beaded cavity insulation, added further loft insulation, and carpeted flooring.

Elmhurst never visited my home, but yesterday I found out they have given me a much lower EPC rating then was given when I bought the house. The house is considerably warmer, I couldn't even sleep in my bedroom it was so cold I was on the sofa for the first 4 months.

Has anyone else experienced anything similar? Is there anything I can do?

I am looking to move as soon as possible to he close to family due to illness, I'm really concerned about the impact of this. I've never met anyone from this company! Other than asking for the EPC to be reviewed, is there anything else I can do?

Reviews on Trust Pilot are some of the worst I've ever seen.

Hi, its been a while and no-one appears to have given you an answer yet. I'll give you my thoughts and hope that helps. I'm qualified as a DEA (Domestic Energy Assessor), so I'm the type of person that goes round to peoples' (existing) houses and issues EPCs for them, although my main income stream is from renovating and re-selling run-down properties. Elmhurst operate an 'accreditation' scheme for DEAs, so it would have been someone that was a member of Elmhurst's accreditation scheme that came round to your house to conduct the EPC assessment, rather than Elmhurst themselves. They claim to run the largest accreditation scheme, but there are others such as Quidos, ECMK etc. (for full disclosure, I am a member of Elmhurst's DEA accreditaiton scheme). I guess you've identified Elmhurst from the lower section of the EPC itself, and just above that will be the name and contact details of the actual assessor that conducted the assessment. It's a bit strange that you don't recall anyone coming round. That's a bit unusual. With the 'retrofit' work that you have had done, I wonder whether the EPC was issued for that - I think sometimes an EPC is conducted for formal retrofit work prior to, and then sometimes also after the work is carried out, as part of the formal process - not sure in your case, but the assessment date should be indicated on the EPC which can give an indication. Anyhow, its always possible for EPCs to contain mistakes, perhaps the 'previous' one, perhaps the 'new' one. It's also possible that something has changed since - I can't give an opinion in your case without further details. It's always possible an EPC for another property was lodged under your address, but I think that is much less likely. On the EPC it indicates that in the case of queries, the first port of call would be to contact the assessor who carred out the EPC and present your thoughts (you'd probably contact the assessor of the last one of course). If you are not satisfied with their response, then the EPC advises to contact the accreditation scheme (Elmhurst in this case). Of course, it's always possible to get another DEA to come round and get a new EPC conducted if you think the current one is wrong. You can do that even with a valid EPC being in place. Documentary evidence is realy important though, so you'd need to present any information you have about the measures that you have undertaken to the assessor, to make sure anthing relevant is included in a new assessment (the carpets wouldn't make a difference, but the other things most likely would). You mention electronic vents, are they the AirEx suspended floor vents (air bricks)? I only came across those the other week. They look like a bit of an effort to record in the assessment (an Appendix Q item!). All the best.