When mould kept appearing in his 1960s rental property in Eynsham, landlord Nicholas knew something had to change. Concerned about the health of his tenants, the impact on the climate, and looming EPC requirements for rented homes, he turned to Cosy Homes Oxfordshire.

With a Whole House Plan and expert guidance, he installed better ventilation, upgraded glazing, and improved insulation – making the house healthier, warmer, and more efficient.

About the home

This modest two-bedroom mid-terrace house in Marlborough Place, Eynsham, was built in the 1960s with cavity walls and a traditional layout. Over the years, it developed significant condensation and mould problems, particularly on the bathroom ceiling and around the patio doors.

The motivation

The property’s landlord, Nicholas Goodwin, was worried about persistent mould problems, as well as climate change and the urgent need to cut carbon emissions. On top of this, there was growing pressure for landlords to achieve higher EPC ratings in rental properties. These three converging factors prompted him to take action.

Before contacting Cosy Homes Oxfordshire, Nicholas had already spoken to installers who promised quick fixes. After an inspection and even lining up a grant, the workers backed out, saying they couldn’t proceed. In contrast, Cosy Homes Oxfordshire was far more informative, offering solutions and paying close attention to the details.

Taking a whole house approach

Nicholas reached out to the Cosy Homes Oxfordshire team who provided a detailed assessment and came up with a Whole House Plan to transform the property. They installed a decentralised, continuous ventilation system that uses low-energy, quiet fans to extract moist air, with a boost function kicking in when humidity levels rise.

To further improve the house’s comfort, they replaced all the old aluminium-framed double-glazed windows with new UPVC ones, complete with trickle vents, and installed a new patio door. They also increased the loft insulation to ensure better thermal efficiency.

The result

The improvements were immediate and impressive. The mould problem was brought under control, and the indoor environment became much healthier and more comfortable. Nicholas was pleased with the transformation.

He decided to postpone the cavity wall insulation due to the concrete Finlock gutters, which needed careful assessment before proceeding. These gutters can crack, potentially leading to water ingress, so caution was necessary.

Later, Nicholas saw a BBC report on the pitfalls of failed cavity wall insulation and felt reassured that by commissioning a Whole House Plan from Cosy Homes Oxfordshire, he had chosen a holistic approach, rather than going for a quick fix that could have turned a damp problem into an even bigger issue.

Increased EPC rating

Thanks to these improvements, the property achieved an EPC rating of 69 C – a significant step up, and a boost to Nicholas’s carbon-cutting efforts.

There is even more potential on the horizon, as he is considering adding solar PV panels in the future, which could push the EPC rating much higher.

Nicholas’s journey with Cosy Homes Oxfordshire highlights the importance of a thorough, whole-house approach to energy efficiency. By addressing multiple aspects of the home’s performance, Cosy Homes Oxfordshire helped create a warmer, healthier, and more sustainable living space. His mid-terrace house is now not only more energy efficient, but also a cosier, more pleasant place for his tenants to live.

Reflecting on his experience, Nicholas noted: “Talking to Cosy Homes Oxfordshire was far more informative. They said where there are these problems, we could do this or that. They were just so much more on top of the details. I was really impressed. Now that we know someone who knows what they’re talking about, we hope to do something more in the future.”