5 Beale Close, Stevenage, SG2 0LR

5 Beale Close is a one-bedroom detached house in Stevenage (SG2 0LR). It has a recorded floor area of 45 m² (around 482 sq ft), construction records dating it to 1950-1966 and council tax band B. Tenure is freehold. At 45 m² this is the smallest unit on EPC record across the building (45–96 m²). The building's EPC ratings span E to C, with this unit at the bottom. On EPC score it ranks last in the building (54 versus a best of 75). The latest certificate (June 2009) shows an E (score 54), well below the UK norm with real room to improve. When first surveyed in January 2009 the rating was F, the property has climbed 1 band since. Between certificates, roof efficiency went from Poor to Average, window efficiency went from Very Poor to Average and lighting went from Poor to Good. The recommended improvements would lift it to C (score 71), a 2-band jump. The latest certificate is from June 2009, so improvements made since then won't be reflected.

At 45 m² it sits well below the postcode median (89 m² across 6 EPCs), making it one of the more compact homes locally. On energy efficiency it sits in the bottom 10% of properties in this postcode — significant headroom for improvement. 1 bedrooms is on the smaller side for this postcode, where 3 is the typical count. Across 1997–2011, sale prices on this property compounded at 7.5% per year. Today's modelled estimate of £158,000 sits 100% above the 2011 sale of £79,000. On a £-per-square-foot basis, the last sale (£164/sq ft) was about 38.8% below the postcode norm. Last changed hands 15 years ago, in August 2011.