77% of homeowners now say an EPC rating will be important when they next move home. That figure comes from a survey by the HomeOwners Alliance and the National Association of Estate Agents, as reported by The Irish News. The finding marks a sharp jump from 52% in 2022, and it signals a fundamental shift in how British households value energy performance.
Why EPC ratings have become a dealbreaker
Energy bills have risen by roughly 60% since 2021. The price cap now sits at £1,923 a year for a typical household, and it will climb again in October. Buyers know that a home with an EPC rating of D or below will cost them hundreds more each year in gas and electricity. They also know that lenders are starting to penalise inefficient properties. Barclays, for example, offers lower mortgage rates on homes with an EPC rating of A or B. The message is clear: an EPC rating is no longer a bureaucratic sticker on a sales brochure, it is a financial metric that affects monthly outgoings and borrowing costs.
What it costs a typical 3-bed semi
A home with an EPC rating of D uses about 3,000 kWh more gas per year than a C-rated home. At current prices, that is roughly £180 extra annually. Over a five-year mortgage fix, that adds up to £900, enough to make a buyer walk away. For a property rated E or F, the gap widens to £400–600 a year. The Energy Saving Trust estimates that improving a D-rated home to a C costs between £5,000 and £15,000, depending on the measures needed, loft insulation, cavity wall fill, double glazing, or a heat pump. The catch: many of these upgrades qualify for government support. The Boiler Upgrade Scheme offers £7,500 towards a heat pump. The Great British Insulation Scheme covers loft and cavity wall insulation for eligible households.
Who qualifies, and who doesn’t
The grants are not universal. The Boiler Upgrade Scheme is available to homeowners in England and Wales who replace a fossil-fuel boiler with a heat pump. The Great British Insulation Scheme targets low-income households and those in council tax bands A–D. But even without grants, the return on investment is improving. Rightmove data shows that homes with an EPC rating of C or above sell for 1–2% more than similar D-rated properties, about £3,000–£6,000 on a £300,000 house. Estate agents report that buyers increasingly request the EPC certificate before booking a viewing.
Yet the survey also reveals a gap between intention and action. While 77% think EPC ratings matter, only 34% have actually made energy-efficiency improvements in the past year. The reason is often cost, but also confusion: which grant applies, which installer to trust, and whether the work will actually raise the rating. Ofgem and the government have promised a simplified online portal by 2026, but for now homeowners must navigate multiple schemes and local installers.
What to do now
If you are thinking of selling in the next three years, start with an EPC assessment, it costs £60–£120 and lists the cheapest improvements first. Loft insulation (£300–£500) and smart thermostat controls (£150–£300) are low-cost, high-impact. For bigger projects, apply for the Boiler Upgrade Scheme before 31 March 2027. The scheme is capped at 60,000 installations per year, and allocations are already filling fast. Check eligibility on gov.uk. Do not wait until the week you list your home, the survey shows buyers are already looking.
Frequently Asked Questions
Costs vary from £5,000 to £15,000 depending on the property and measures needed. Typical upgrades include loft insulation (£300–£500), cavity wall insulation (£500–£1,500), double glazing (£3,000–£6,000), and a heat pump (£7,500–£12,000 before grants).
The Boiler Upgrade Scheme offers £7,500 for heat pumps. The Great British Insulation Scheme covers loft and cavity wall insulation for eligible low-income households. Check gov.uk for current eligibility and application windows.
