What Does EPC Rating Mean?

Quick links:

• The EPC rating scale explained (A to G)
• What information is on an Energy Performance Certificate?
• How your EPC rating affects your monthly utility bills
• When is an EPC legally required and how do you check it?
• EPC rules for renting: Current MEES regulations and 2030 targets
• How to improve your EPC rating (from D to C)
• What future UK EPC reforms mean for homeowners and renters

An Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) rating shows your property's energy efficiency. Ratings range from A to G, with A being the most energy-efficient and G the least.

In the UK, you usually need an EPC when a property is built, sold, or rented out. Once issued, an EPC is valid for 10 years.

Generally, a home with a higher EPC rating should be cheaper to run than a similar property with a lower rating. However, your EPC rating is just one factor that affects your energy bills. How many people live in your home and how much energy you use will also have a big impact.

Whether you’re moving home or simply wondering how to improve your current rating, this guide covers everything you need to know about EPC ratings.

Your EPC score determines which energy-efficiency band your home falls into, from A to G.

Band D is widely cited as the average EPC rating for a UK home. This means a typical property may have some energy-efficient features but still lose more energy than homes in the higher bands.

What do EPC ratings C, D and E mean?

There's a noticeable difference in energy efficiency between ratings C, D and E.

Generally, the higher your EPC rating, the less energy your home should need to keep it warm. However, your actual energy bills will still depend on how many people live in your home, how much energy you use and your energy tariff.

Read our guide to learn more about how much energy bills vary by EPC rating.

Your EPC shows your current and potential ratings, as well as where your home uses energy, and what you could do to make it more energy efficient.

The certificate mainly shows:

• Estimated energy costs: An estimate of how much it could cost to heat and light your home and provide hot water, based on standard assumptions rather than your actual energy use.
• Carbon footprint: Information about the property's estimated carbon dioxide emissions and its environmental impact.
• Improvement recommendations: Suggested changes that could improve your home's energy efficiency, such as adding loft insulation or installing double glazing. The EPC may also show the estimated cost of these improvements and how much you could potentially save on energy.

Your certificate will also show the EPC rating your home could potentially achieve if you made the recommended improvements. For example, a home currently rated D might be able to reach a C or B rating with some changes.

Your EPC can give you an idea of how much energy your home is likely to use, but it can't tell you exactly what your monthly utility bills will be.

For example, a B-rated home is generally more energy efficient than an E-rated home. This means it should require less energy to keep warm and could cost less to run. However, two households living in identical B-rated homes could still have very different monthly bills.

That's because your actual energy costs depend on factors including:

• How many people live in your home
• How much heating, hot water and electricity you use
• Current gas and electricity prices
• Your energy tariff (fixed or variable)

The English Housing Survey shows how much your EPC rating can affect running costs:

While an EPC rating of C is generally considered energy efficient, it could still cost more or less to run than a home with any other rating, as what you actually pay depends on your household's energy use and tariff.

If you'd prefer more predictable monthly bills, Unlimited Energy lets you pay a fixed monthly price for your energy based on the number of people living in your home, rather than how much energy you use.

When selling or renting out a property, you need a valid EPC before you start marketing it. An EPC is valid for 10 years from the date it's issued, unless a new certificate is produced during that time.

How to check a property's EPC rating

You don't need to own a property to check its EPC. You can look up a current certificate for free using the official government register.

If the property is in England or Wales:

1. Visit the GOV.UK Find an Energy Certificate service.
2. Search using the property's postcode.
3. Select the correct address to view its current EPC.

Scotland and Northern Ireland use separate EPC registers, and the rules around Energy Performance Certificates can differ across the UK.

Rental properties in England or Wales need an EPC rating of at least E. Under the current Minimum Energy Efficiency Standards (MEES), landlords can't normally let a property with an F or G rating unless they have a valid exemption.

Good news for renters: the energy efficiency of privately rented homes has been improving. In England, 48% of private rented homes were rated C in 2024, up from 42% in 2022. This is very similar to owner-occupied homes, where 49% were rated C.

However, 9% of private rented homes were rated E in 2024, compared with 7% of owner-occupied properties.

Are EPC rules for landlords changing?

Yes, the government has confirmed plans to introduce higher energy efficiency standards for privately rented homes in England and Wales from 1 October 2030.

The new standard will broadly require privately rented homes to reach the equivalent of an EPC C under the reformed EPC system.

Landlords will be required to spend up to £10,000 per property on relevant energy efficiency improvements to meet the new standard. The government estimates that the average cost for affected properties will be around £5,400.

If a property still doesn't meet the required standard after the landlord has spent up to the cost cap, they may be able to register an exemption.

The rules and timelines differ in Scotland and Northern Ireland, so landlords and renters should check the requirements that apply where they live.

An EPC rating of D is around average for a UK home, but improving your home to a C could reduce energy waste and help future-proof your property as energy efficiency standards change.

Alongside your EPC rating, you'll receive recommendations to make your property more energy efficient, including the potential impact on your rating and energy costs.

Some improvements are quick and easy, while others require a much bigger investment.

Quick wins

Depending on your home, you could:

• Switch to energy-efficient LED lighting
• Add or improve your loft insulation
• Install a smart thermostat to give you more control over your heating
• Fit thermostatic radiator valves (TRVs)

Major upgrades

For a bigger improvement to your home's energy efficiency, you could:

• Upgrade old windows to double or triple glazing
• Add solid or cavity wall insulation
• Upgrade an old boiler to a more efficient model
• Replace an older heating system with a more efficient option, such as a heat pump

The cost will depend on your home and the work it needs. English Housing Survey data suggests it could cost around £7,400 to £8,000 to bring a home up to EPC band C, depending on the property type

In England and Wales, the government is reforming EPCs.

Currently, the main Energy Efficiency Rating is heavily influenced by the estimated cost of heating and powering a home. Future EPCs are expected to use several measures of energy performance instead, including a Heat Retention Rating.

This should give homeowners and buyers a clearer picture of the property itself, including how features such as insulation affect its energy efficiency.

For landlords, keeping up with the changes is particularly important as the way properties are assessed against minimum energy efficiency standards is changing.

Whatever your EPC rating, using less energy is only one part of managing your household costs.

Get a quote to see how One Utility Bill can make managing the bills in your new home easier, or how Unlimited Energy could help you stay warm in your home, no matter its EPC rating.