Seven in ten home sellers now watch their EPC rating as closely as the asking price. A survey published this week found 77% of homeowners said the rating would be important when they next move, a signal that energy performance has shifted from a niche concern to a mainstream dealbreaker.
The research, as reported by Yahoo Finance UK, comes as the average energy bill sits above £1,900 a year and the government tightens minimum EPC rules for rental properties. For homeowners, the message is blunt: a low rating costs money twice, once on bills, once at sale.
Who qualifies, and who doesn’t
The survey polled 2,000 UK homeowners via YouGov. It found that 36% rated EPC as ‘very important’ and a further 41% as ‘fairly important’. Only 8% said it was not important at all. The pattern held across age groups and regions, though renters, who do not control the rating, were less concerned.
For sellers, the risk is concrete. Estate agents surveyed separately by the HomeOwners Alliance estimate that a D-rated property sells for 5-8% less than an equivalent C-rated home. On a typical £300,000 semi-detached house, that is a £15,000–£24,000 discount. The catch is that many sellers do not know their rating until they list. Of the 77% who said it mattered, only 54% had actually checked their current home’s certificate.
What it costs a typical 3-bed semi
Improving from an EPC band D to C on a 1930s semi typically costs between £4,000 and £8,000, depending on the work needed. The biggest gains come from loft insulation (around £500, saving £300 a year), cavity wall insulation (£2,000, saving £400 a year), and double glazing (£4,000–£7,000, saving £200 a year). Heat pumps, while more expensive at £7,000–£13,000 after the Boiler Upgrade Scheme grant, can push a D-rated home to a B.
Energy Saving Trust figures suggest that a typical household can reduce annual bills by £600–£1,000 through a package of measures. That same package lifts the EPC by two bands. For a seller, the upgrade pays back in two ways: lower bills while they live there, and a higher sale price when they leave.
Grants and deadlines
The government’s ECO+ scheme, which runs until March 2026, provides free or subsidised insulation for low-income households and those in the lowest council tax bands. The Boiler Upgrade Scheme offers £7,500 off an air-source heat pump. For landlords, the deadline for a minimum EPC C on new tenancies is 2028, with existing tenancies following by 2030.
Yet uptake remains patchy. Ofgem data shows only 45% of eligible households have claimed ECO+ funding. The complexity of applications and the shortage of accredited installers are the main bottlenecks. Homeowners who act now, before the spring 2026 rush, will face shorter wait times and, likely, lower prices as installers compete for work.
The 77% figure from this survey is not a prediction. It is a warning. Buyers are already voting with their feet. The question is whether sellers will act before the market votes for them.
Frequently Asked Questions
For a typical 3-bed semi, costs range from £4,000 to £8,000, depending on the measures needed. Loft insulation, cavity wall insulation, and double glazing offer the best returns. The Boiler Upgrade Scheme can reduce heat pump costs by £7,500.
No, there is no legal minimum EPC for selling a home. However, a lower rating can reduce your sale price by 5-10%, and from 2028, landlords will need a C rating for new tenancies. Many buyers now factor EPC into their offer.
