Your EPC (Energy Performance Certificates) rating lets potential buyers or renters know how energy efficient the property is. A higher EPC rating can lead to a higher house price because the property is more efficient, requires less work from the outset and is cheaper to run, which makes it very attractive to buyers.
This means that taking steps to improve your EPC rating before putting your property on the market could help boost your asking price. So how do you improve your rating if you’re getting ready to sell or simply want to boost your house value for the future?
1. Switch to LED bulbs
LED light bulbs are far more energy-efficient and environmentally friendly than traditional halogen or incandescent bulbs. They provide great light levels, are cheaper to run and can last much longer, making them a great choice.
While swapping your bulbs isn’t going to see your EPC rating shoot up, it can help you lift it by one or two ratings, especially if you’re already close to a higher rating. This switch is also one of the cheapest and easiest that you can make.
2. Update your boiler
Your heating system has a huge impact on your EPC rating, with older boilers being a lot less efficient to run. Older boilers can also reduce your asking price, as there’s a greater chance the buyer will need to replace it within a few years on top of the reduction in your EPC rating.
If your boiler is a much older model, it could be worth investing in a new, condensing model, which will greatly affect your EPC rating. A new boiler could see your EPC rating increase by as much as 40 points. This is great news because the minimum EPC rating is 39, meaning a change of boiler will get you to the required standard.
While it’s likely that a new boiler will cost between £1,00 and £3,000, the increase in your EPC rating will likely see this paid back due to the increase in house value.
If you want to improve energy efficiency even more, it could be worth seeing what else you can upgrade on the heating system alongside the boiler. For example, thermostats and connected radiator controls will help buyers better control their heating and increase your property value further.
3. Insulate your property
Insulation is one of the most energy-efficient options for your property, especially if the current insulation in your house is of poor quality or you haven’t insulated your walls and roof.
Around a third (33%) of heat is lost through the roof when it isn’t insulated, meaning it can be more expensive to heat the property and more difficult to keep it warm. Ensuring that your roof is fully insulated with insulation that is at least 270mm thick will help stop a lot of this heat from escaping, cutting down on energy costs and making the property warmer.
Wall insulation is also a great way to improve your EPC rating. For newer properties, this can be cavity wall insulation, which fills the gap left between two layers of brick in the external walls. For older properties without a wall cavity, you can have solid wall insulation installed. Both types of insulation are very effective and will have a big impact on your rating.
It is worth noting that it is cheaper to fully insulate newer properties as cavity wall insulation is a much cheaper option, as well as being easier. While solid wall insulation is more expensive, it will lead to large energy savings and have a positive impact on your EPC rating.
4. Upgrade your windows
Just like an uninsulated roof, you can lose a lot of heat out of your windows. While most homes now have double glazing, older properties may still have single glazing installed, which is nowhere near as energy-efficient. In fact, if your property has single glazing, it will be incredibly hard for it to achieve the required EPC rating.
This is why it is well worth investing in replacing single glazed windows with double or triple glazed ones to improve energy efficiency. While the impact will be less than insulation, it can still boost your EPC rating by five to ten points, making it well worth the investment.
Similarly, if your windows were installed a fair few years ago, you may want to get them checked over to ensure all the seals are still effective and deal with any issues. This will further improve the energy efficiency of your property while making sure it is in good repair.
5. Draught Proofing
While your boiler, insulation and windows are the most important when it comes to your EPC rating, proofing against draughts can add a couple more points, so it can you a higher rating.
Draughts can be uncomfortable and decrease the efficiency of your heating. They can be a result of ill-fitting doors, missing draught excluders on letterboxes, gaps in window seals and other small issues. In most cases, dealing with draughts is easy, quick and cheap. There may be some draughts that are harder to deal with, such as those that come from open chimneys.
Draughty chimneys can affect your EPC rating, so it may be worth blocking them up permanently or installing a closed heater.
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