If you sell or rent your property, you will need an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC). This shows your potential buyers or tenants how much your property will cost to heat and light and what its carbon dioxide emissions are likely to be.
No one wants to buy or rent a property that is expensive to run and is not environmentally friendly, so improving your EPC rating can make your home more attractive to prospective buyers or tenants.
Additionally, landlords must meet a minimum EPC rating of E or above to legally rent out their properties. London’s new-build properties tend to score highly. However, three-quarters of buildings in Camden and Westminster are within conservation areas, and many are Grade I or II listed. Period properties are typically less efficient, so landlords in Marylebone, Mayfair and Camden should prepare to make improvements.
In this guide to EPC ratings, we explain what they are, what their benefits are, and how to improve your EPC rating in a flat or house in Central London.
What Is An Energy Performance Certificate?
You must appoint an accredited assessor to conduct the EPC inspection. They will give your property an energy efficiency score and a score for CO2 emissions. The scores are divided into bands from A (most efficient) to G (least efficient).
Energy performance certificates have two charts which display the Energy Efficiency Rating (running costs) and the Environmental Impact Rating (CO2 emissions). You will see your current rating alongside the potential rating you could achieve by making the recommended improvements.
Your rating will be scored between 1-100 points divided into categories, reflecting the energy efficiency from high to low. See below for banding points:
EPC rating A = 92-100 points (most efficient)
EPC rating B = 81-91 points
EPC rating C = 69-80 points
EPC rating D = 55-68 points
EPC rating E = 39-54 points
EPC rating F = 21-38 points
EPC rating G = 1-20 points (least efficient)
Any recommendations are tailored to the specific property, considering its location, age and condition. An EPC is valid for 10 years. You can search for a property’s EPC certificate by postcode on the government’s online database.
What Is The Minimum EPC Rating For Rental Properties?
Landlords of privately rented properties in England and Wales must achieve an EPC rating of E before they can let (or continue to let) their properties.
If your rating is F or G, you must immediately improve the property’s rating to E (or higher). Your EPC report will include a list of recommendations to improve the energy efficiency of your property.
The cap on energy efficiency improvements is £3,500 (including VAT), meaning you’re not expected to spend more. If you have already made all the improvements you can, and have reached this limit without improving the property’s EPC to E, visit the Gov.uk website. You can view the funding options available, the third-party funding sources that may apply, and find out how to apply for an ‘all improvements made’ exemption.
Don’t put off getting a valid EPC certificate or making the necessary improvements to your property, the penalty for non-compliance is a fine of up to £5,000.
What Are The Proposed Changes To EPC Regulations?
For now, the MEES will remain at an EPC E rating after plans to change the Minimum Energy Efficient Standards (MEES) were scrapped. However, in February 2025, the government launched a consultation on raising the MEES to a C rating for new tenancies starting in 2028 and existing tenancies beginning in 2030. Landlords don’t legally have to improve their EPC rating from an E to C yet, but be prepared for change, as it is on the government’s green housing agenda.
The Benefits Of An EPC
As well as fulfilling the legal criteria when you rent or sell your property, you can benefit from an EPC in several ways. Improving your score usually lowers the home energy bills, which is attractive to tenants (and buyers, if you eventually choose to sell). If you, the landlord, pay for the utilities, you could directly benefit from lower gas and electricity bills.
An energy-efficient property should also conserve warmth, making it less likely to develop damp and mould. This makes it easier for you to provide a clean, safe home for your tenants, saves you the expense of damp treatment, and makes it more habitable.
Which Properties Do Not Require An EPC?
The following properties do not require an EPC:
Holiday accommodation
Residential buildings used for less than 4 months each year
Industrial sites and workshops
Properties that you intend to use for 2 years or under
Buildings scheduled for demolition
Standalone buildings with useable floor space measuring 50 square metres or less
Listed buildings
10 Ways To Improve Your Property’s EPC Rating
Working towards a more energy-efficient property will enhance its value and improve the quality of life for whoever lives there. Examine your existing EPC report first to improve a home’s energy efficiency. The recommendations page will list measures you can take to improve the property’s energy performance.
To find out how to improve your EPC rating from an F to E, from a D to a C, or make a larger impact, read on. Here are 10 things you could look at:
1. Lighting
Replace any halogen light bulbs with eco-friendly LED bulbs – these energy efficient light bulbs use 80% less energy than an incandescent one. LED lights cost under £5, making these energy-saving lights a simple way to improve your EPC rating.
2. Double Glazing Or Triple Glazing
Invest in double or triple-glazed windows and doors to improve your energy rating and reduce noise pollution. Replacing doors and windows may enhance the aesthetics of your property and increase security, too – all selling points for potential buyers.
3. Loft and Floor Insulation
A quarter of household heat loss happens through the roof, but loft insulation is easy to install and relatively inexpensive. It costs around £950 for professional installation, or £20 per roll to fit it yourself.
Floor insulation starts at around £5,000, with the cost depending on whether the floorboards are accessible from below, or must be lifted and relayed. However, you can seal gaps around the skirting boards inexpensively.
4. Wall Insulation
Fitting cavity wall insulation or solid wall insulation can improve your EPC rating and bring down the rental property’s carbon footprint. You might qualify for assistance with the cost of installing cavity wall insulation from the government’s Great British Insulation Scheme if your property has an EPC rating of D to G. Consider external insulation or internal insulation for solid walls. According to the Energy Saving Trust, the amount of energy saved annually could be around 400 kg of CO2 for a flat.
5. New Boiler And Heating System
Nothing will have such a significant impact on your energy bills as an energy-efficient boiler. The cost of replacing your boiler, or entire heating system, might be high in the short term, but it can save you money in the long term and make a considerable impact. Even when you don’t need to heat your home, hot water is used year-round, so a new boiler can be a great selling point for your property.
You can expect a new boiler to cost in the region of £4000 and above for the new model and installation.
Consider A Heat Pump Or Biomass Boiler
Consider adding a renewable energy source such as wood-burning biomass boilers, and ground-source heat pumps which draw up geothermal warmth. Seek advice on their impact on your EPC score before you commit.
The cost of installing a heat pump starts at £8,000, while biomass boilers cost around £10,000, and a Boiler Upgrade Scheme government grant is available which can radically reduce this cost, depending upon eligibility.
6. Install A Smart Meter
Smart meters are used to give residents an indication of their home energy expenditure and how much it is costing them daily. The idea is that increased awareness leads to people making changes within their everyday lives to reduce their energy consumption, save money and subsequently reduce their environmental impact.
7. Solar Panels
Installing solar panels can reduce energy bills and improve a property’s EPC rating to a D or above. As well as improving your EPC, solar panels could save money on energy bills – or even earn under the smart export guarantee (SEG) scheme.
The initial cost of installing a renewable energy system is higher, but solar panels are considered a long-term solution, and the government’s Green Deal scheme could help.
8. Use Efficient Appliances
Replacing old appliances can make your home more energy-efficient and save money, but it will not improve your home’s EPC rating as appliances are not included in the assessment.
9. Hot water cylinder insulation
At around £20 for an 80mm thick hot water cylinder jacket, insulating your hot water tank is a low-cost way to cut your carbon footprint and boost your EPC rating by several points. You could also lower the gas bills by £50 to £200, by some estimates.
10. Floor insulation and underfloor heating
Up to 20% of heat loss occurs through the floor, so installing floor insulation can make a difference in the long run. You can also reduce your property’s energy consumption and raise its score by installing underfloor heating.
Making small changes in how you use your appliances can also help make your home more energy efficient. For example, washing your clothes at 30 degrees, regularly defrosting your freezer, and only running your dishwasher when it’s full.
We answer your frequently asked questions about energy performance certificates.
What Is A Good EPC Rating?
A good EPC rating is between A and C – the UK average is D, but the minimum standard for rental properties is an E rating.
What Is a Bad EPC Rating?
An F or G is a bad EPC rating – you will be fined if you rent out a property scoring less than E (unless you hold an exemption).
How Long Does An EPC Take?
The EPC usually takes 30-60 minutes, depending on the size of the property
How Much Does An EPC Check Cost?
EPC checks cost £65 to £120 in 2025, according to Checkatrade.
What Will An EPC Assessor Look At?
EPC assessors look at your property’s heating, lighting, boiler and radiators, water tank and pipe insulation, walls, and loft insulation, doors and glazing.
How Much Does It Cost To Improve An EPC Rating?
The exact cost of improving an EPC rating varies, but you’re not expected to spend more than the £3,500 cap.
Find Out More
If you are thinking of selling or renting your Central London home, we can provide an accurate valuation as well as advice about improving the energy-efficient rating of your property.
As an independent, owner-managed estate agent, we provide a truly personal, individual service emphasising client care to landlords in Baker Street, Primrose Hill, Fitzrovia and the surrounding areas. We offer considered advice and work tirelessly on your behalf because we understand that properties are not just buildings – they are homes and investments. Contact us today.
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Kevin Gold
Kubie Gold Associates are an independent local firm of estate agents specialising in the Rental, Sale and Property Management of Residential Property in the North-West and Central London market
