Energy Performance Certificates – what are they and how to improve your rating
First introduced in England and Wales in 2007 as part of the now-defunct Home Information Packs for residential properties with four or more bedrooms, Energy Performance Certificates (EPC) are now a very familiar element of the whole property buying, selling, and letting ‘package’ for us all, but there is still a fair degree of mystery surrounding what effects an EPC for better or for worse.
The brightly coloured A to G scale is an instantly recognisable graphic in our property particulars and is essentially the same as can be found on domestic appliances such as fridges and freezers, washing machines and televisions, with the same focus being placed on improving energy efficiency across our homes.
To generate an EPC, a short survey is conducted at the property by an accredited energy assessor who will examine a range of areas such as cavity walls, floor and loft insulation, boiler and hot water tank, radiators and heating controls, doors, and windows.
This information is then fed-into specialist software which calculates the energy efficiency of the property as it stands, along with a recommended value of the potential for improvement. As you can appreciate, the assessor will make a number of assumptions on the property based on age and construction type.
“With the rising cost of living making the headlines every day, there is understandably more interest in EPC ratings both for properties for sale as well as those for rent.” Says Kate Ridley, Lettings Manager at Milne Moser.
“The imminent increases in gas and electricity are something which will impact on us all, regardless of whether we own or rent our home, and having a more energy efficient home is something that is going to be kinder to our finances as well as better for the environment.”
Legislation introduced in 2018 required any properties to rent achieved a minimum EPC rating of E or above, regardless of the age of the property. At the time, this included any new tenancies or rental agreements, however, in April 2020, this was updated to the effect that landlords were required to achieve the minimum rating for their properties, regardless of when the tenancy had been agreed and commenced, not just new ones.
“An EPC is valid for a period of 10-years and landlords must ensure that their properties have a current certificate.” Continues Kate, “Having a valid EPC for a rental property is a legal requirement and a local authority building control department can enforce this with fines of up to £5,000 for landlords not adhering to this obligation.”
With the UK Government setting a target for the country to be ‘net-zero’ by 2050, changes to the Minimum Energy Efficiency Standards (MEES) were announced in 2021 with all rental properties required to achieve an EPC rating of ‘C’ or above by 2025. Initially this will affect new tenancy agreements but by 2028 it will apply to all tenancies, including those long-standing agreements previously entered into.
“To show that they are serious, it has also been announced that the level of fine for not having a valid EPC for a rental property will rise to £30,000 from 2025.”
The importance of having a current EPC is clear for all to see and, as well as ‘ticking the box’ to stay on the right side of the law, having this information is of benefit to any potential buyer or tenant.
“The ongoing costs of living in a property are not far from everyone’s thoughts at present and are definitely a consideration we’re noticing more from potential buyers and tenants.” Adds Paige McNaughton, Sales Manager at Milne Moser.
If it stands to reason that a good EPC rating can help make your property more attractive to buy or rent, then the obvious next question is: what can I do to improve mine?
“To start with, don’t just see it as purely a money-saving exercise as the benefits of a warmer and more comfortable home are great for everyone’s well-being, along with the fact that you’re doing something positive for the planet by reducing your carbon footprint.”
“Upgrading windows and external doors to double or triple glazing will help minimise heat loss and can also reduce external noise as well.”
“It’s not always necessary to replace entire window frames as often the glazing unit can be replaced with new, more efficient heat-reflective glass. Check to see if the seals have perished as replacing these can help eliminate unwanted draughts.”
“Loft insulation is easy to install and something that doesn’t need a tradesperson to tackle, yet it can make huge positive impact on your home. The recommendation is to use insulation that is at least 27cm or around 12-inches in thickness.”
“Boilers for heating water and radiators are another area to look at – if yours is getting on in years then it is definitely worth looking at a newer model.” Comments Kate.
“New boilers tend to be smaller and more efficient, as well as affording a little extra peace of mind for landlords knowing that it’s something less to worry about.”
Even though headlines were made at the start of this year with regard to a ban on gas boilers from 2025, there’s no need to panic on this front as this article from British Gas explains.
Wall insulation is another area for consideration with solutions available for cavity walls, solid walls and party walls: “Although this is a much more involved and specialist undertaking, there are still grants available for certain property types which are worth investigating and, as with all these suggestions, the financial savings can be significant.”
So having a good EPC rating as a result of your property being energy efficient is a ‘win’ on all fronts, and can:
- Make your property more attractive to potential buyers or tenants
- If you’re not planning to move just yet, it can save on your annual energy bills
- If you’re a landlord, it can ensure you’re on the right side of current legislation and new laws coming into effect in the next few years
- And you’re doing your bit to reduce your carbon footprint and help the planet!
Note for landlords: please remember that gas boilers and gas appliances are required to pass an annual inspection undertaken by a Gas Safe® registered engineer to achieve a Gas Safety Certificate (CP12).
Article references:
Energy Performance Certificates (Gov.uk): https://www.gov.uk/buy-sell-your-home/energy-performance-certificates
www.simpleenergyadvice.org.uk
This website has been developed in conjunction with the government’s Department for Business, Energy, and Industrial Strategy and provides many useful resources to help make your home more energy efficient.
How to improve your EPC rating (EDF Energy): https://www.edfenergy.com/energy-efficiency/how-improve-your-epc-rating
What does the gas boiler ban mean for me and my home? (British Gas): https://www.britishgas.co.uk/the-source/greener-living/gas-boilers-ban-2025.html
Gas Safety Certificate (CP12) Explained (Safegas.co.uk): https://safegas.co.uk/boiler-and-heating-guides/gas-safety/gas-safety-certificate-cp12-explained/
