173b, Upper Bridge Road, Chelmsford, CM2 0BB

173b is a mid-terrace house in Chelmsford (CM2 0BB). It has a recorded floor area of 45 m² (around 484 sq ft), construction records dating it to 1976-1982 and council tax band B. At 45 m² this is the 2nd smallest of 25 units on EPC record in the building, where floor areas span 24–98 m². The building's EPC ratings span E to C, with this unit at the top. The latest certificate (August 2020) shows a C (score 73). The rating has held steady at C across 4 certificates since January 2009. Between certificates, window efficiency went from Very Poor to Good and lighting went from Very Poor to Average; while wall efficiency dropped from Good to Average.

It hasn't traded since November 1999, a hold of 27 years that's notably long for the area. Only one transfer is on record with HM Land Registry, suggesting it has stayed in the same hands for a long time. At 45 m² it sits well below the postcode median (81 m² across 24 EPCs), making it one of the more compact homes locally. On energy efficiency it sits in the top 10% of properties in this postcode. Today's modelled estimate of £210,000 sits 180% above the 1999 sale of £75,000. On a £-per-square-foot basis, the last sale (£155/sq ft) was about 39.8% below the postcode norm. One historical planning record sits against the property in 2014.