“Homeowners to Pay More for Their EPC When Selling or Renting their Homes” Says epc4less

The methodology for assessing the energy performance of existing dwellings, known as Reduced data Standard Assessment Procedure (RdSAP), has been used in energy rating calculations for millions of homes in the UK since 2007. 

However, in summer 2024, the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero will introduce a new assessment methodology called RdSAP10.  The procedure that defines this update, spanning over 106 pages, aims to address carbon emissions, fuel poverty, and the impact of climate change in detail. 

SAP Calculations for existing homes are done through a computer aided tool, following Domestic Energy Assessor’s (DEAs) survey of a home. The DEAs will be responsible for implementing the new methodology, which will require a far more detailed data collection during a house survey and increased data input in the new SAP calculation software. These changes will significantly impact the energy assessment of your home.

Expect to pay more

With the new, more detailed EPC assessment methodology set to be implemented in spring 2024, homeowners should anticipate higher costs for their EPC assessments. However, Alex Papaconstantinou, senior SAP Assessor at epc4les.com, believes that more detailed reports will ensure more accurate evaluations and will provide reliable reports and recommendations for improvements. 

Bad news for old houses

When evaluating a property, the age band of the house plays a role in determining the U-values of the walls, floors, and roofs. The U value is a metric of thermal resistance. The lower the U value, the better. So for example, the lower the U value of a wall, the more efficient is the wall in retaining the heat. In the current assessment methodology, older houses tend to receive low ratings, while newer homes receive high ratings. However, it is anticipated that in the new assessment methodology, older houses will receive even lower ratings and newer houses will receive even higher ratings. 

Prepare to open blinds and curtains

Under the current methodology, assessors do not individually assess windows, as the SAP calculation algorithm assumes the size of openings based on the age band of the building. However, in the new methodology, assessors will need to evaluate each window and door separately. This means that all external doors and windows in each part of the building will be measured and examined. So prepare for the assessor to open curtains and blinds.

Tide up that attic space

With the implementation of RdSAP10, assessors will be required to measure gable walls and party walls in roof conversions or rooms in the attic. This will result in default insulation values being assigned to roof rooms based on the age of the building. As the process will involve a greater amount of data collection and calculations be prepared to shift things out of the way in the attic room.

Government is pushing towards heat pumps

The upcoming shift in the SAP assessment methodology will recommend heat pumps as the primary heating system, moving away from favouring oil and gas systems over electric heaters, especially in homes suitable for air-source heat pumps. Since 2007 when RdSAP was first introduced in the UK as the government approved methodology for the energy rating of existing dwellings, combi condensing gas boilers were the favourable heating system followed by condensing oil boilers. With the introduction of RdSAP10, it will be the first time that following an assessment of the dwellings space and location it will recommend an electric heating system in the form of air source heat pumps. The government has been pushing towards the introduction of heat pumps in new developments especially if the electric is provided by renewable solutions, like photovoltaic panels.