Updating post from Reddit.
Hi all,
Looking for insight / perspectives.
I am owner of a 3 bed 2nd&3rd Floor (top of building) Victorian maisonette in Highbury London.
It was my home for ten years and has been rented out for past six years.
In 2021 I got an EICR License rated E which will expire in May'2026.
So, I want to start understanding the implications should I continue renting the property from May'2026 onward vs selling.
The property is a traditional victorian building with sash windows, a gas boiler for heating. 3 bedrooms, kitchen/diner, lounge and small roof terrace (end of terrace corner).
I do not have a very good understanding of changes to EICR legislation or what that might mean for a License renewal in May'26.
If the implications are significant, more than single digit thousands, it might be time to evaluate renting vs selling.
Grateful for opinions, perspectives or any guidance on the above.
Thanks in advance for reading and any comments.
EPC = Energy Performance
EICR = Electrical Safety
Which one are you talking about?
Thank you for reading, I get the feeling that EPC is the one with potential for significant capital investment costs from my limited understanding re: victorian building's and the possibily of costs for double glazed windows, heat pumps etc.
If I was planning on remaining a Landlord for a further ten years this would be capital expenditures that could make sense and be manageble.
However, this is unlikely for us, owning for a further 2-3 years then a sale would be our ideal plan, so by 2027 or 2028.
In this circumstance this large investment would not make sense.
Do you currently have a valid EICR, AND a separate valid EPC?
These are two separate certifications relating to totally different things.
Thank you for asking.
My understanding is that I have an EICR License and an EPC level E which was completed at the same time in 2021 and both due for renewal May'26.
If you had an energy performance certificate (EPC) done in 2021 this is good for ten years so won't expire until 2031 - the new MEES regulations come into effect in 2030, so if you're only going to rent for 2-3 years it may be a non issue for you - although worth noting that the property will be more attractive to tenants if it has a lower energy rating. As someone else has said, you need to first look at the recommendations on the certificate.
As your property passed the EICR (electrical installation condition report - due every 5 years) it should just be a simple case of renewing in 2026. If there are any recommendations here they will be noted within the report, however if your property passed in the first place any recommendations probably aren't going to be that bad!
Thank you for taking time to read and reply. This is clearly an area I need to learn more about, I'll check with my managing agent on the EPC expiry date which sounds like I may have mistakenly assumed was part of the EICR license process and expiring at the same time.
Really helpful - thanks again.
I'd like to know the answer as well. I'm hoping it all becomes diluted as the reform bill goes through parliament. If it doesn't, there's going to be a lot of landlords selling putting a further squeeze on the private rented sector.
At a cost of possibly £15k to bring a house from an E to a B, the government could/might/might not develop some sort of low interest loan scheme. But that wouldn't be politically popular because the population hates landlords.
Worth having a read of the guidance for exemptions -
Oooh, very useful, thank you!
Really useful suggestion!
Step 1 is to read the recommendations in your current EPC and understand the cost/benefit.
That would be a question for your local council licensing department