Easy question (I hope)

[balbecdaze]

I've semi-installed two 1.5kW systems onto a building being converted into 2 flats. Semi-installed because the flats don't both have an electricity supply yet - there is only one supply at present. So the wiring ends where the consumer units will be. The owner of the building is asking the builder if I can connect up one (at least) of the installs to the existing supply so he can benefit from the pre-april rate.

Am I correct in that it won't do him any good because as the flats are unfinished he can't get an EPC yet?

Or is there a mechanism I don't know about whereby as the house is being (re)built to a suitable standard (the builder has all the SAP details) the owner can use this in place of an EPC?

Thanks.

 

[Tuck]

Basically it is as you have stated, without an EPC you cannot apply for the higher rate FIT. Expected or "Pre" EPCs (i.e. what it will likely be once all the heating, insulation and PV system are in place and up and running) won't be accepted. At least they weren't back in mid 2012 as we had a customer who was completely renovating an old property back then and asked the question. Long and short of it was, the builders had to have all the heating in place and commissioned so that the EPC could be done before the Aug tariff change.

One of the regulars on here may have more recent info if this has changed though.

tbh as the difference on a 4kwp install would only be less than £20 a year, i doubt its going to make a huge difference on a single 1.5kwp

 

[Ian-LS]

No it has to be a full EPC not a predictive one so he won't benefit from the pre April rate

 

[balbecdaze]

Cheers Guys, luckily the builder's getting all the hassle and not me!

 

[Mattty]

If the building is being converted does that mean it was a house before? Maybe an EPC exists for the original house? Long shot but try the EPC register. https://www.epcregister.com/ If there is one and it is a D rating then could that be used? I suppose it depends on how the flats are to be known. For example if number 38 was being split in to two flats and they were then called 38 and 38a then the EPC would still read as if it is for 38.

For a regular EPC the heating doesn't actually need to be working, but a boiler would need to be on the wall. That said as these are conversions they would need 'new build' EPCs (aka On-Construction EPCs from full SAP) to pass part L of the building regs and a regular EPC where an assessor visits the site should not be done. For a new build EPC (on any newbuilds/conversions finished after April 2008) the assessor doesn't actually visit the site and so you send through the plans and the specs and then tell them when you've finished the build and they lodge the EPC.