Would You like a feature Interview?
All Interviews are 100% FREE of Charge
According to Which?, the next government should aim to reform Energy Performance Certificates (EPCs) because they are unreliable and can cost homeowners when they sell or renovate their homes.
A snapshot review by consumer advocacy groups found that the EPC, introduced in 2007, was packed with inaccurate information and unhelpful advice.
The UK currently faces a huge challenge to reduce energy use and switch to low carbon heating, and for many households an EPC will be the first step in getting advice on how to improve the energy efficiency of their home. Grants, or ‘green’ finance products such as loans and mortgages, are often only available to those who meet certain criteria based on the EPC.
The consumer advocacy group selected 12 Which? members, homeowners across England, Wales and Scotland, to check the accuracy of their EPCs by booking EPC assessments on their behalf between February and March 2024. Their homes were built between 1650 and 1999 and range from one-bedroom apartments to five-bedroom detached houses.
Which? revealed issues with the accuracy of its findings and the recommendations homeowners received.
One homeowner had an EPC survey done but did not receive a certificate; the survey fee was refunded but the homeowner was not told anything about the energy efficiency of their home. Of the remaining 11 participants, only one was “very satisfied” with the EPC and only three said they would be likely to recommend getting an EPC based on their experience.
The majority of participants (8 out of 11) told Which? that their EPC did not appear to be accurate and incorrectly accounted for key parts of their home, such as windows, roofs and heating systems.
Some participants felt that the suggested recommendations were too expensive, and one consumer said he felt that draft protection had not been taken into account in the EPC report, despite his home having an open chimney and a single-pane front door.
Peter and Carol Vermeulen, from Aberdeenshire, achieved a D rating for the energy efficiency of their four-bedroom semi-detached bungalow, built in the 1980s, following an EPC assessment.
However, after receiving the EPC we noticed a number of inconsistencies – there was no mention of photovoltaics, solar thermal panels or a wood burning stove. The suspended floor was described as uninsulated, although during the inspection we had discussed underfloor insulation with the assessor and they had offered to open an inspection hatch so it could be inspected.
Which? contacted the assessor to point out the mistake and after reviewing their survey notes, the assessor admitted there had been an omission (claiming it was the software’s fault) and offered to provide a new EPC.
The assessor has issued a new amended EPC with an improved energy efficiency rating of B. An improved EPC makes a big difference to owners as it can enable them to command a higher price if they decide to sell and make their home more attractive to potential tenants.
Megan Dobney also achieved a D rating for energy efficiency in her two-bedroom Victorian terraced house in London.
The EPC recommended several improvements including internal or external wall insulation (typically costs between £4,000 and £14,000, saving £172 per year), suspended floor insulation (typically costs between £800 and £1,200, saving £70 per year), solar hot water heating (typically costs between £4,000 and £6,000, saving £57 per year) and solar panels (typically costs between £3,500 and £5,500, saving £621 per year).
Installing all four would cost Megan up to £26,700, but it would only raise the property’s rating by one level, from a D to a C. Taking all these energy-saving measures would save Megan around £920 a year, meaning it could take up to 29 years to recoup the costs.
Megan said: “The recommended changes, while resulting in small savings each year, would be extremely expensive and would cause massive disruption.”
With millions of households across the UK worried about high energy bills, the EPC could provide valuable information about how people can save money and improve the efficiency of their homes – but it is in desperate need of reform.
Which? is calling for the next administration to reform the EPC to make it a more reliable and useful tool for homeowners. In addition to addressing concerns about the accuracy and reliability of the EPC, Which? believes that the design and content of the EPC should be reformed to ensure it provides consumers with the information and advice they need. This should include information to help consumers prepare for the transition to low carbon heating.
EPCs should be made more interactive, allowing consumers to input information so advice is better tailored to their own circumstances. EPCs should also include up-to-date costs relevant to the type of property and provide links to financial support and a database of installers who are part of the government accredited scheme.
The EPC is based on an assessment by a National Energy Assessor, who can become qualified through a number of different certification schemes that offer online and face-to-face training. The next Government should review the EPC audit and training requirements for this role to ensure assessors have the skills needed to complete reliable assessments.
Rocio Concha, director of policy and advocacy at Which?, said: “Millions of households are worried about high energy bills and the UK faces a huge challenge in transitioning to low-carbon heating. Energy Performance Certificates could be a useful tool for consumers looking to save money in future and improve the efficiency of their homes.”
“However, our research shows that reform is desperately needed as current certificates are often inaccurate, have long payback periods and only suggest costly remedies.”
“The next administration must make Energy Performance Certificates a more reliable and useful tool for homeowners, including reviewing audit and training requirements for domestic energy assessors, and ensuring EPCs provide consumers with relevant information and clear, actionable advice.”
Timothy Douglas, head of policy and campaigns at Propertymark, believes the introduction of the Property Passport will help drive up the adoption of energy efficiency improvements and make better use of EPCs.
He explained: “This will enable information to be transferred between building owners and help them maintain their long-term decarbonisation goals for their buildings.”
“The process does not replace the EPC but enhances it, creating the opportunity to capture EPC data digitally and add other data over time. Based on the building’s construction and operational data, the Property Passport also provides detailed guidance on actions that are needed to improve the property and those that have already been taken, helping building owners and occupiers make decisions to improve the energy efficiency of their buildings.”