Research from epIMS, the energy efficiency platform for landlords, shows that 60.2% of homes sold, let, or constructed in England and Wales over the past year (Q4 2023 – Q3 2024) held an EPC rating of C or above. This marks a 1.6% increase compared to the previous 12 months, reflecting growing awareness of energy performance among buyers, tenants, and housebuilders.
London led the regions, with 64% of homes achieving an EPC rating of C or above, followed by the North East (61.8%), South East (61.5%), North West (61.5%), and East of England (61.4%). Yorkshire & Humber recorded the largest annual increase, rising by 3.9%, with other notable gains in the East Midlands (+2.4%), West Midlands (+1.8%), and East of England (+1.7%).
The North East was the only region to see a slight decline in the proportion of energy-efficient homes coming to the market.
The increasing focus on EPC ratings is expected to grow further, particularly as Halifax has begun incorporating EPC ratings into mortgage affordability calculations. This reflects the impact of utility costs on living expenses and household budgets, making energy efficiency a key consideration for both buyers and tenants.
Craig Cooper, COO of epIMS, said: “It’s great to see an increased awareness of EPC ratings among tenants and buyers, as they develop their understanding of how a home’s energy efficiency impacts both the global environment and household expenses.
“But an EPC rating isn’t necessarily reflective of how eco-friendly a home is, and not enough people know that the overall EPC rating of A through to G doesn’t give the full, genuine picture of what’s going on within the home. 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.
“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.”
