Last updated: October 2026. Written by the Citywise Property Solutions assessment team, London.
To improve your EPC rating, start with the low-cost measures listed on your current certificate: loft insulation, LED lighting, a hot water cylinder jacket and heating controls. Then tackle walls, windows and the heating system. Most homes in England and Wales can move up one full band, for example from D to C, with two to four well-chosen upgrades.
This guide explains how to improve an EPC rating step by step, what each upgrade typically costs, what works in London properties, and what landlords must do before the 2030 deadline.
Key facts at a glance
- An EPC rates a home from A (most efficient) to G (least efficient) and is valid for 10 years.
- Band C starts at 69 points. Band D runs from 55 to 68 points.
- Rented homes in England and Wales must currently be band E or better.
- The government intends all privately rented homes to reach the equivalent of EPC C by 1 October 2030.
- The planned landlord spending cap is £10,000 per property, and spending since 1 October 2025 counts towards it.
- You do not have to get a new EPC after improvements, but you need one to show the higher rating.
What is a good EPC rating?
A good EPC rating is band C or above. Band C means a score of 69 to 80 points and reflects a home that is cheaper to heat than most existing UK housing. Band D is the most common rating for older homes and is legal to rent today, but it will not meet the planned 2030 standard for landlords.
EPC rating scale
| Band | Points | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| A | 92 to 100 | Very efficient, usually new build with renewables |
| B | 81 to 91 | Efficient, typical of modern homes |
| C | 69 to 80 | Good, the planned minimum for rented homes from 2030 |
| D | 55 to 68 | Average for older housing |
| E | 39 to 54 | Below average, the current legal minimum for renting |
| F | 21 to 38 | Poor, cannot be let without a registered exemption |
| G | 1 to 20 | Very poor, cannot be let without a registered exemption |
Is EPC rating D good or bad?
EPC rating D is acceptable but not good. A band D home can be sold or let today. Landlords with a D rating should plan upgrades now, because the government intends to raise the minimum to the equivalent of band C by 1 October 2030.
What about EPC rating E?
EPC rating E is the lowest band you can legally let in England and Wales. Homes in band E usually have several gaps at once, such as little loft insulation, uninsulated walls and an old boiler or electric heaters. They often gain the most points per pound spent.
How to improve your EPC rating in 6 steps
- Find your current certificate. Search the GOV.UK energy certificate register by postcode. It is free.
- Read the recommendations table. Every EPC lists upgrades in order, with an indicative cost and the rating you would reach after each one.
- Do the cheap measures first. Lighting, cylinder insulation, draught proofing and loft top-ups cost little and add points quickly.
- Fix the fabric. Insulate the loft, walls and floors before you spend on heating. A well-insulated home needs a smaller heating system.
- Upgrade heating and controls. Replace old boilers or storage heaters and add a programmer, room thermostat and thermostatic radiator valves.
- Keep the paperwork and book a new assessment. An assessor can only record what can be seen or proven with documents.
12 EPC improvements and what they cost
The costs below are the indicative ranges shown in the sample EPC in the government’s landlord guidance. Real quotes vary, and London labour rates are often higher, so get at least two quotes.
| Upgrade | Indicative cost | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Low energy (LED) lighting in every fixed fitting | About £20 | Every property, the cheapest points available |
| Hot water cylinder jacket | £15 to £30 | Homes with an uninsulated or thinly insulated cylinder |
| Draught proofing | £80 to £120 | Period homes with gaps around doors, sash windows and floors |
| Loft insulation topped up to 270mm | A few hundred pounds for a typical loft | Houses and top-floor flats with less than 100mm of insulation |
| Heating controls: programmer, room thermostat and radiator valves | A few hundred pounds | Homes with a boiler but basic controls |
| Cavity wall insulation | Varies by wall area | Homes built from about the 1930s onwards with unfilled cavities |
| Room-in-roof insulation | £1,500 to £2,700 | Loft conversions and attic rooms |
| High heat retention storage heaters | £1,200 to £1,800 | Electric-only flats with old storage or panel heaters |
| Double glazing to replace single glazing | £3,300 to £6,500 | Homes with original single-glazed windows |
| Solid floor insulation | £4,000 to £6,000 | Ground-floor rooms during a refurbishment |
| Internal or external solid wall insulation | £4,000 to £14,000 | Victorian and Edwardian solid brick homes |
| Solar PV panels | £5,000 to £8,000 | Homes with a suitable unshaded roof, a strong final step to reach C or B |
A new condensing boiler or a heat pump can also raise the rating where the existing system is old or inefficient. In England and Wales the Boiler Upgrade Scheme offers a grant towards a heat pump. Check current eligibility on GOV.UK before you order.
How far can upgrades move the rating?
The sample certificate in the government guidance shows a home starting in band E at 39 points. After fabric upgrades, cheap measures and new storage heaters it reaches band D at 67 points. Solar water heating and double glazing take it to band C at 73, and solar panels to band B at 83. Your own certificate shows the same step-by-step forecast for your property.
How to increase an EPC rating from D to C
Moving from D to C usually means gaining between 1 and 14 points. For most homes the shortest route is:
- Top up loft insulation to 270mm.
- Fit LED bulbs in all fixed light fittings.
- Add a room thermostat, programmer and radiator valves if any are missing.
- Insulate cavity walls if they are unfilled.
- Replace a boiler that is more than 15 years old, or replace old electric heaters with high heat retention storage heaters.
If the property is still short of 69 points, solar panels or wall insulation normally close the gap.
Improving the EPC rating of London properties
London housing has features that change which upgrades are practical.
- Solid brick terraces. Many Victorian and Edwardian homes have no wall cavity. Internal wall insulation is often the realistic option because it does not alter the street frontage.
- Conversion flats. Mid-floor flats lose little heat through floors and ceilings, so heating, controls, glazing and lighting matter most.
- Electric-only flats. Old panel heaters score poorly. High heat retention storage heaters with the right tariff are a common fix.
- Conservation areas and listed buildings. External insulation and new windows may need planning or listed building consent. Speak to the borough conservation officer first.
- Leasehold flats. Windows, roofs and external walls often belong to the freeholder. Ask for written consent before starting work, and keep any refusal, because it can support an exemption for landlords.
EPC rating rules for rental property in England and Wales
The rules today
Since 1 April 2020 landlords cannot let, or continue to let, a home rated F or G unless they have registered an exemption. The current cost cap is £3,500 including VAT. Local authorities enforce the rules and can fine landlords up to £5,000 per property.
The EPC rating changes planned for 2030
In January 2026 the government confirmed its plan for privately rented homes in England and Wales:
- A single compliance date of 1 October 2030 for all tenancies, new and existing.
- A standard equivalent to EPC C, measured on the new EPC metrics: fabric performance first, then either heating system or smart readiness.
- A cost cap of £10,000 per property, with a lower cap for low-value homes.
- Spending on qualifying improvements since 1 October 2025 counts towards the cap.
- Homes that reach band C on a current-style EPC before 1 October 2029 will be treated as compliant until that EPC expires.
- Exemptions will last 10 years.
These changes still need legislation, which the government aims to bring into force in 2027. The redesigned EPC is now due to launch in the second half of 2027. These rules do not apply in Scotland or Northern Ireland.
Practical point for landlords: reaching band C on a current EPC before 1 October 2029 gives certainty for up to 10 years.
Get the evidence ready before the assessor visits
An EPC assessor must assume the worst case for anything that cannot be seen or evidenced. Missing paperwork is one of the most common reasons a home scores lower than it should. Have these ready:
- Insulation certificates or guarantees for walls, floors and flat roofs.
- Building control completion certificates for extensions and loft conversions.
- FENSA or CERTASS certificates for replacement windows.
- The boiler make and model, and the installation or Gas Safe certificate.
- MCS certificates for solar panels or heat pumps.
- Photos taken during works that show insulation before it was covered.
Also make sure the assessor can reach the loft hatch, boiler, hot water cylinder and meters.
Do you need a new EPC after improvements?
No. A valid EPC stays valid for 10 years even if you upgrade the property. You only need a new one if you want the register to show the higher rating, for example to prove compliance to a tenant, lender or council, or to market the home with a better band.
Read our guide on how long an EPC lasts and how to check your rating for more on validity.
Frequently asked questions
What is the quickest way to improve an EPC rating?
The quickest way is to fit LED lighting, insulate the hot water cylinder, top up loft insulation and add heating controls. These can often be completed in a few days and are usually the first items on the EPC recommendations list.
How much does it cost to improve an EPC rating from D to C?
It depends on how many points the home needs. A home at 66 or 67 points may only need a few hundred pounds of work. The government’s impact assessment estimates an average landlord cost of about £5,400 per property to meet the 2030 standard.
Is EPC rating C good or bad?
EPC rating C is good. It is above the average for existing homes and matches the standard the government plans to require for rented homes in England and Wales from 1 October 2030.
Can I improve my EPC score without major building work?
Yes. Lighting, cylinder insulation, draught proofing, loft insulation, heating controls and a modern boiler or storage heaters can all be done without structural work.
Does double glazing improve an EPC rating?
Yes, replacing single glazing helps, but it usually adds fewer points per pound than loft insulation, wall insulation or a heating upgrade. Do the cheaper measures first.
Do EPC improvements have to be on the recommendations list?
For landlords, yes in practice. Under the current rules, an exemption for reaching the cost cap is only available if the measures you installed were recommended ones.
How long does an EPC last after I improve the property?
A new EPC lasts 10 years from the date it is lodged on the register.
Book an EPC assessment in London
Citywise Property Solutions Ltd provides domestic EPC assessments for landlords, agents and homeowners across London, including Croydon and South London. We lodge your certificate on the national register and explain which upgrades will move your rating.
Book your EPC certificate in London or contact our team on 07359 830749.
Citywise Property Solutions Ltd is registered in England and Wales, company number 17026397. Office: 1 Bensham Lane, London, CR0 2RU.