Flat 1, 159 Friar Street, Reading, RG1 1HE

Flat 1 is a semi-detached house in Reading (RG1 1HE). It has a recorded floor area of 71 m² (around 764 sq ft) and construction records dating it to 2012-2021. At 71 m² this is the 4th smallest of 6 units on EPC record in the building, where floor areas span 62–117 m². The building's EPC ratings span D to C, with this unit at the bottom. On EPC score it ranks last in the building (68 versus a best of 76). The latest certificate (August 2025) shows a D (score 68), on the cusp of jumping into the C band. Earlier certificates rated it C (August 2015); the latest reading is one band lower. Between certificates, hot-water efficiency went from Poor to Good and main heating went from Very Poor to Average; while wall efficiency dropped from Very Good to Good and window efficiency dropped from Very Good to Average. The recommended improvements would push it to C (score 69). Main heating runs on electricity.

Across 2014–2015, sale prices on this property compounded at -25.1% per year. Today's modelled estimate of £197,000 is 73.2% below the 2015 sale of £735,000, running counter to the wider postcode trend, which makes the EPC and condition history especially worth a look. On a £-per-square-foot basis, the last sale (£962/sq ft) was about 42.4% below the postcode norm. At 71 m² the property is well over the postcode median (48 m² across 38 EPCs), placing it in the larger end of the local stock. It lags the bulk of the postcode on energy efficiency (less efficient than 89% of similar EPCs). 2 planning records sit against the property, 2 approved, 0 refused. Past consents include change of use to residential, meaningful when judging how the property has evolved. 11 years since the last transfer (April 2015).