Property portal Rightmove is urging landlords and homeowners to take a closer look at the recommendations contained in their Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) report.
The portal believes that almost half of home owners could significantly improve the energy efficiency of their homes by making the most commonly suggested changes, many of which cost less than £100.
A study of 15 million EPCs by Rightmove revealed that 59% of homes in England and Wales fall in the lowest-rated categories for energy efficiency (D, E, F or G ratings). Yet the portal believes this figure could be reduced to 11% if suggestions in the reports were taken on board.
According to Rightmove, 11 million homes in England and Wales that do not have an EPC rating, because they haven’t been sold or let since the certificates were introduced.
Rightmove analysed the improvements recommended most frequently in EPCs. Included is switching to low energy lighting - one of the cheapest ways to boost energy efficiency, costing on average £38.
Other low-cost recommendations include hot water cylinder insulation at an average cost of £23 and draught-proofing single-glazed windows at £100. Increasing loft insulation, upgrading heating controls and installing solar panels are also often recommended.
Rightmove’s director of property data Tim Bannister says: “It’s encouraging to see that there are some energy efficiency improvements that can cost less than £100, so it’s definitely worth checking your EPC, if your home has one, to see if there are small changes you could make to try and improve your rating.”
Privately rented properties in England and Wales must have an EPC rating of E or above. The government’s current ‘Improving the energy performance of privately rented homes’ consultation could require landlords to achieve an EPC rating of C for all new tenancies by 2025 or 2028 for existing tenancies.
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