Key abstract:
- 46% of properties on the market and 58% of leases are rated EPC C or above
- Common annual power payments for EPC A rated houses are £571 for houses rated EPC A, rising to £6,368 for EPC G
- 58% of individuals say they’re motivated to make inexperienced house enhancements for a greater high quality of life
- Whereas progress has been made, there’s been no huge bounce in houses going greener, regardless of an enormous coverage push
Our Greener Properties Report is now in its fourth 12 months, monitoring how sustainable property traits are shaping up throughout the nation. This 12 months’s evaluation attracts on 17 million EPC certificates, almost 30 million property listings, and insights from over 1,200 UK shoppers.
So, what’s taking place? What’s slowing issues down? And what do householders, renters and landlords actually assume? Let’s dive in.
EPCs are enhancing, however progress has slowed
Again in 2015, simply 29% of resale houses and 41% of leases had an EPC ranking of C or above. Quick ahead to 2025 and people numbers have climbed to 46% and 58% respectively. Excellent news, proper?
Nicely, sure and no. Progress has slowed lately. Regardless of authorities schemes and rising consciousness, many individuals are hesitant to spend money on inexperienced tech, typically due to value and complexity.
The rental market tells the story clearly: between 2015 and 2020, EPC C rankings jumped by 11%. From 2020 to 2025? Simply 6%. Even with coverage pushes, enhancements have slowed .
Our property skilled, Colleen Babcock, says: “Coverage ambition hasn’t translated into real-world acceleration. We’d have anticipated inexperienced enhancements to hurry up within the rental sector following coverage pushes, however the information reveals progress over the previous 5 years has been slower than the earlier 5.
“For landlords, the problem is balancing compliance with value and potential worth appreciation, and for renters, it’s about discovering houses that ship actual financial savings. Power effectivity isn’t simply good for the planet, it’s good for the pocket too, and making it simpler to attain will probably be key to unlocking quicker change.”
On the brilliant facet, half of all inexperienced upgrades made previously 5 years occurred within the final 12 months – an indication that some landlords are taking motion regardless of uncertainty round future laws.
Learn extra about EPC necessities for rental houses
Why the hesitation?
84% of individuals say EPC rankings matter, but half of house owners and almost two-thirds of renters don’t know their property’s ranking. Carbon-cutting motivation can also be slipping, AS solely 42% cite it as a cause for making adjustments, whereas value financial savings dominate at 83%.
Sensible worries are rising too: disruption throughout works is now a much bigger barrier than earlier than. And whereas consciousness is excessive, perception within the worth of inexperienced upgrades isn’t maintaining – 37% of house owners say EPC rankings received’t affect their subsequent buy.
Nonetheless, there are positives:
- 58% need inexperienced upgrades for a greater high quality of life
- 30% imagine they add worth
- 19% assume they make houses extra enticing to patrons
What’s dwelling in a inexperienced house actually like?
We spoke to households to work out what life’s like past the stats. From what it might do to your payments, to the way it adjustments everyday life.
Megan, London, lives with photo voltaic panels and a biomass system:
“I used to assume inexperienced tech was unreliable, costly, and just for rich or eco-conscious households. But it surely’s been the other. My house stays comfortably heat and funky, and I don’t pay for heating, scorching water or electrical energy as a result of every thing runs on inexperienced expertise. It’s 100% price it. It saved me cash and even helped me get on the property ladder, as my lender might see I wouldn’t have excessive power payments.”
Matt, West Sussex, dwelling with photo voltaic panels:
“We didn’t select photo voltaic, it got here with the property, however once we noticed how a lot energy the panels generated and that extra was bought again to the grid, it felt like an actual bonus. On a sunny summer season’s day, we don’t pay for electrical energy between 7am and 8pm. In peak months, we revamped £300 by promoting extra energy again to the grid. It’s hassle-free, low-maintenance, and offers you an actual kick when the solar’s shining, you’re saving cash and CO2, and even making a bit again.”
Malcolm, West Cumbria, dwelling with photo voltaic panels and battery storage:
“We didn’t select photo voltaic, it got here with the property, however once we noticed how a lot energy the panels generated and that extra was bought again to the grid, it felt like an actual bonus. On a sunny summer season’s day, we don’t pay for electrical energy between 7am and 8pm. In peak months, we revamped £300 by promoting extra energy again to the grid. It’s hassle-free, low-maintenance, and offers you an actual kick when the solar’s shining, you’re saving cash and CO2, and even making a bit again.”
Wish to make your private home greener?
Mentions of inexperienced tech in property listings are climbing– warmth pumps are up 46%, photo voltaic panels up 37% year-on-year. And the financial savings by going greener at house may be huge: houses with the very best EPC ranking of A have common annual power payments of £571, in comparison with £6,368 for EPC G. the lowest-rated houses. Test common payments to your property kind and EPC ranking in our power invoice tracker.
Checking your EPC by way of the federal government web site is an efficient place to start out – if your private home has a legitimate EPC on the register, it’s going to present you suggestions for tips on how to enhance. Then discover authorities schemes just like the Boiler Improve Scheme, which was not too long ago expanded to incorporate much more inexperienced heating options.
For extra suggestions, try our guides to going greener at house.
