EPC Rating Improvement Tips for Landlords in East London

Rental properties need an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) E score or higher – and could need a C rating in future. Many homes in the UK fall below the standard – the Office for National Statistics (ONS) data shows that 75% of homes in Barking and Dagenham, 32% of Redbridge homes and 18% of Newham properties have an EPC rating below C.

Thankfully, there are some easy ways to improve your EPC rating. As an East London landlord, your Victorian terrace or 1930s semi-detached house may need a few upgrades – or your newer rental property may need simple improvements to raise your score. An EPC is also one of the required certificates that landlords need to keep.

Read on for our tips for landlords on how to improve the EPC rating of your rental property in Stratford, East Ham, Gants Hill or Romford.

How To Improve The EPC Rating Of A Property

Double Glazing

Replacing your single-glazed windows for double or triple glazed windows could improve your energy efficiency rating. Double glazed windows can cost around £7,000.

Energy Efficient Light Bulbs

Swapping your bulbs to energy efficient LED lights can increase your rental property’s EPC score. They can also lower the electricity bills, which is attractive to money-conscious tenants.

Smart Meter

Fitting a smart meter does not directly improve your EPC rating but it could help you to identify energy consumption patterns. Then, you can focus your improvements accordingly.

Heating Controls

Installing heating controls could raise your EPC rating. Room thermostats and thermostatic radiator valves can reduce wasted energy, as can heating timers and smart heating controls for the heating and hot water system.

Energy Efficient Boiler

If your inefficient boiler is lowering the property’s EPC rating, consider replacing it with a more energy efficient condensing boiler. Though the boiler replacement cost could be over £3,000 (including labour), this could improve your score by up to 40 points.

On a similar note, ASHP Heat Pumps are an exceptionally efficient alternative to traditional boilers, though they cost an average of £15,000 for supply and installation.

Storage Heaters

Do storage heaters raise your EPC score? Replacing old-fashioned storage heaters with modern high heat retention storage heaters can improve your EPC rating. However, do your research to find a suitable model.

Hot Water Cylinder Jacket

A cheap and easy way to improve your EPC in a flat or house is to insulate your hot water cylinder with a hot water cylinder jacket costing around £20. If you already have one, consider upgrading to an 80mm thick jacket.

Solar Panels

Renewable energy sources like solar panels reduce your property’s carbon footprint. They are more costly for property owners, but could potentially raise your EPC rating by around 15 points and reduce energy bills. That said, it could take around 10 years to break even from the hefty upfront cost (averaging £6,100), even though they are an excellent investment for the long-term.

Underfloor Heating

Water-based underfloor heating uses less energy that traditional radiators. It can typically add several points to you EPC rating, though installation can cost around £10,000.

Wall and Floor Insulation

Insulating the walls and floor could increase your EPC rating, however the costs vary depending on whether floorboards need to be lifted, and whether you have cavity walls or solid walls. Cavity wall insulation can cost around £500, while solid wall installation is more costly at £10,000 to £15,000 on average.

Loft or Roof Insulation

Homes lose 25% of their heat through the roof, so roof and loft insulation is a relatively easy and affordable way to improve your property’s energy efficiency. Try to look for insulation that’s at least 270mm thick. The average cost is £550 to £1,000.

Typical Costs Of Improving Your EPC Rating

There’s a cost cap of £3,500 including VAT, and you won’t be expected to spend more to reach the EPC E rating. If you still fall short, you can apply for an exemption for ‘all improvements made’.

What’s the cheapest way to improve your EPC rating?

The cheapest ways to improve your EPC include fitting LED light bulbs for around £5 and insulating the hot water cylinder for around £20. You can make these upgrades yourself, saving labour costs too.

Are there government grants for EPC improvements?

There are government grants available for landlords, including the Boiler Upgrade Scheme for heat pump or biomass boiler costs, and the Warm Homes Local Grant for energy saving home improvements to properties rated EPC D, E, F or G.

Future changes to EPC regulations

The Labour government has announced plans to raise the minimum EPC rating for rental properties a C rating by 2030. The Department for Energy Security & Net Zero suggests that higher EPC ratings could apply to new tenancies by 2028, while the landlords’ EPC cost cap could rise to £10,000 or £15,000 per property. No new energy efficiency proposals have been made in the 2025 Renters Rights Bill, other than for landlords to align with the Decent Homes Standard.

If you have queries about improving your EPC rating on your rental property in Newham, Redbridge or Dagenham, Waltham Forest, Hackney or Thurrock – the team at Lint Group can help. Contact us today.

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