Over the past year, more than 60% of all homes entering the market achieved an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) rating of C or higher. This positive trend reflects the growing emphasis that buyers, tenants, and housebuilders are placing on energy efficiency and performance ratings.
This insight comes from research conducted by epIMS, a leading platform dedicated to EPC and energy efficiency. The study examined homes sold, rented, or constructed in England and Wales between Q4 2023 and Q3 2024, assessing how many held an EPC rating of C or above. For context, these figures were compared to data from the previous 12 months (Q4 2022 – Q3 2023).
The findings revealed that 60.2% of homes in the last year maintained an EPC rating of C or above, marking a notable increase of 1.6% compared to the prior year. London stands out with 64% of its homes achieving a C rating or better, the highest proportion across all regions. Following London, the North East recorded 61.8%, the South East and North West each reached 61.5%, and the East of England secured 61.4%.
Craig Cooper, Chief Operating Officer at epIMS, commented on the latest data, expressing enthusiasm about the heightened awareness of EPC ratings among prospective tenants and buyers. He emphasized, however, that an EPC rating alone does not fully capture a home’s eco-friendliness. Cooper highlighted that the A to G rating scale may not provide a comprehensive picture of a home’s overall energy performance, underscoring the need for a deeper understanding of what truly makes a home sustainable.
“For example, Air Source Heat Pumps are an environmentally friendly way of heating a home but provide less of a boost to the EPC rating than an efficient traditional gas boiler,” said Mr Cooper. He further added, “True understanding of a home’s energy efficiency is only available when you study the EPC score on a much closer level, which means knowing how numerical EPC points accumulate to create the overall letter rating. This is how you get a full picture of a home’s energy efficiency and, more importantly, the steps required to improve it.”
In summary, while the increase in EPC ratings is encouraging and signifies a positive shift towards more energy-efficient homes, it is important to recognize that EPC ratings are just one aspect of a home’s environmental impact. Continued education and comprehensive assessments are essential for achieving truly sustainable living spaces.