How Can I Improve My EPC Rating from D to C?

“Can you make it a C?” It’s a question I get asked quite a lot when carrying out EPC assessments, particularly from landlords. The simple answer is that I can’t just make a property achieve a C. An EPC is based on the property as it is at the time of the assessment and the information and evidence available to me. What I can do is explain why a property has achieved its current rating and what improvements could potentially help move it from a D to a C.

How far away from a C is the property?

This is the first thing I’d look at. Two properties can both have a D rating but be in completely different positions. One might only be a few points away from a C, while another could be much further down the D band. That makes a big difference to the amount of work that might be needed. Before spending money on improvements, it’s worth understanding where the property currently sits and which parts of it are having the biggest effect on the EPC.

Loft insulation

This is one of the things I regularly check during an EPC assessment. If a property has little or no loft insulation, increasing it can potentially improve the EPC rating as well as reduce heat loss. However, if plenty of insulation is already present, adding even more isn't necessarily going to suddenly move the property into a C. This is also why I need to inspect the loft where it's safe and accessible. I need to establish what insulation is actually there rather than simply assuming it. Does an EPC Assessor Need to Go in the Loft?

Heating and heating controls

The heating system can have a significant effect on an EPC. The type and efficiency of the boiler or other heating system matters, but so do the controls. Things such as a programmer, room thermostat and thermostatic radiator valves can all be relevant to the assessment.

Replacing an old inefficient heating system can sometimes make a substantial difference, but I'd never recommend replacing a perfectly good boiler purely on the assumption that it will guarantee a C rating.

Hot water

The way hot water is produced and stored also forms part of the EPC calculation.

Where there's a hot-water cylinder, insulation around the cylinder and the way the hot water is controlled can affect the assessment. These might seem like relatively small details, but when a property is only a few points short of the next EPC band, smaller improvements can sometimes become important.

Windows and glazing

Double glazing can improve the energy efficiency of a property, particularly where older single-glazed windows are being replaced. But again, context matters.

If the property already has modern double glazing throughout, replacing it with slightly newer double glazing purely to improve the EPC is unlikely to be the first place I'd look.

Low-energy lighting

Lighting is another part of an EPC assessment. Most properties I visit nowadays already have a high proportion of LED or other low-energy lighting, but it's still something I record.

Changing old-fashioned bulbs to LEDs is relatively cheap and straightforward. It isn't normally going to transform a poor EPC on its own, but every part of the assessment contributes to the overall result.

Solar panels

Solar PV can have a significant positive effect on an EPC rating. That doesn't mean I'd suggest fitting solar panels solely to move an EPC from D to C, though.

The cost of an improvement needs to be considered alongside the benefit it provides to the property and the effect it could have on the EPC.

What about wall insulation?

This can be a big one. Whether the property has solid walls, cavity walls or another construction affects the EPC calculation. Evidence is particularly important here.

If insulation can't be established from the property itself or suitable documentary evidence isn't available, I can't simply assume that insulation has been installed.

This is why keeping paperwork for improvements such as cavity wall insulation, internal wall insulation or external wall insulation can be useful when an EPC is carried out.

Don't spend money based on guesswork

This is probably the most important point. If your property currently has a D rating and you want to achieve a C, don't assume that replacing the boiler, adding insulation or fitting new windows will automatically get you there. Every property is different. I've seen properties where relatively modest changes could make the difference, while others would require considerably more work. The starting EPC score, age and construction of the property, heating system, insulation, glazing and other factors all come into it.

“Can you make it a C?”

Unfortunately, there isn't a button I can press to turn a D into a C!

My job as a Domestic Energy Assessor is to accurately record the property and produce the EPC based on what is actually there. If you're trying to improve the rating, the existing EPC is a useful starting point. It shows the current score and includes recommended improvements, although the effect of carrying out improvements should always be considered in the context of the individual property. Sometimes a property can be surprisingly close to the next band. Other times there is a lot more involved.

That's why I'd always understand the starting point before spending thousands of pounds trying to chase a particular EPC rating.

Need a new EPC?

I'm James, an independent Domestic Energy Assessor carrying out EPC assessments across York, Selby, Tadcaster, Castleford, Pontefract, Knottingley, Sherburn in Elmet and surrounding areas.

I deal directly with homeowners, landlords and property professionals, with most EPCs completed and issued within 24 hours of the assessment.

If your EPC has expired, you've made improvements to the property or you simply need a new assessment, get in touch for a quote.