How to improve an EPC rating on a rental property
A short, practical shortlist of improvements that tend to lift EPC ratings on private rentals in England, in rough order of cost and disruption.
The right EPC improvements depend on the property and the current rating, but a shortlist of measures moves the needle in most homes. The EPC itself lists recommended measures with indicative rating gains, so start there. Below is the general order self-managing landlords tend to work through.
Low-cost, low-disruption
- LED lighting throughout — one of the highest ROI changes on the SAP methodology.
- Loft insulation topped up to current depth (usually 270 mm).
- Hot water cylinder jacket and pipe insulation.
- Draught-proofing on external doors and older windows.
- Modern heating controls: programmer, room thermostat, TRVs on every radiator.
Mid-cost, some disruption
- Efficient boiler replacement, if the current one is old and non-condensing.
- Cavity wall insulation, where the walls are suitable.
- Double glazing where any panes remain single.
Higher-cost, larger works
- Solid wall insulation (internal or external).
- Heat pumps and other low-carbon heating.
- Solar PV.
How to plan the works
- Get the current EPC in front of you and read the recommendation table.
- Group changes into a single visit where possible to minimise disruption.
- Get an assessor to re-lodge the EPC once the material works are done.
- Keep receipts and installer certification.
Once the fresh EPC is lodged, update the date and PDF against the property on the EPC diary page. See the sister guide on the minimum EPC rating for a rental for the rules the rating has to satisfy.
Frequently asked questions
- What is the cheapest way to improve an EPC rating?
- LED lighting throughout, hot water cylinder and pipe insulation, draught-proofing and topping up loft insulation are the lowest-cost changes that consistently move ratings upward on the domestic EPC methodology.
- Does a new boiler improve the EPC rating?
- Usually, yes. Replacing an old inefficient boiler with a modern condensing model and adding heating controls (programmer, room thermostat, TRVs) tends to raise the rating meaningfully, though the size of the jump depends on the current baseline.
- How long does it take to get a new EPC after works?
- Booking a new assessment takes about 30–60 minutes on site, and the certificate is typically lodged within a few working days. Only a lodged EPC counts for compliance purposes.
Put the date in a diary. We email you before it lapses.
One property and dates only are free. Paid plans add certificate uploads and the 30 / 14 / 7 day emails.
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