Understanding the EPC Rating Scale
The EPC rating scale runs from A to G, with A being the most energy efficient and G the least. Each letter corresponds to a numerical score range, calculated using the government's Standard Assessment Procedure (SAP). This scoring considers everything from your walls and roof insulation to the type of boiler you have and whether you've got solar panels.
Here's the full breakdown of what each band means, the score ranges, and what kind of properties typically fall into each category.
Rating A — Exceptional Efficiency (92–100+ Points)
An A-rated property is at the pinnacle of energy efficiency. These homes have the lowest energy bills and the smallest carbon footprints. Only around 1–2% of UK properties achieve this rating, and they're almost exclusively new builds designed from the ground up for maximum efficiency.
Typical features of an A-rated home include:
- Triple glazing throughout
- Excellent wall, floor, and loft insulation (often exceeding building regulations)
- Air-source or ground-source heat pump
- Solar PV panels (often 4kW+ system)
- Mechanical ventilation with heat recovery (MVHR)
- LED lighting throughout
- Airtight construction with minimal thermal bridges
Estimated annual energy costs: £300–£600 (some A-rated homes are net-zero or even net-positive, generating more electricity than they use).
Rating B — Very Good (81–91 Points)
Band B represents very good energy efficiency. Around 3–4% of UK homes achieve this rating. It's relatively common in newer properties built to modern building regulations (post-2015) and in older homes that have undergone comprehensive retrofitting.
Typical features include:
- Double or triple glazing
- Well-insulated walls, loft, and floors
- A-rated condensing boiler or heat pump
- Smart heating controls
- Some renewable energy (solar PV or solar thermal)
- Energy-efficient lighting
Estimated annual energy costs: £600–£1,000.
Rating C — Good — The Government Target (69–80 Points)
Band C is the UK government's long-term target for all homes. Currently, around 15–20% of UK properties hold this rating. It represents above-average efficiency and is the benchmark that many policy proposals aim for — particularly for rental properties.
The government has proposed that all rental properties should achieve a minimum of band C, though the timeline has been delayed. For homeowners, reaching band C is the sweet spot where energy bills are significantly lower than average and the property retains strong market value.
Typical features include:
- Double glazing
- Loft insulation to at least 270mm
- Cavity wall insulation
- Modern condensing boiler with thermostatic radiator valves
- Low-energy lighting in most rooms
Estimated annual energy costs: £1,000–£1,400.
Rating D — Average (55–68 Points)
Band D is the most common EPC rating in the UK, with around 40% of all homes falling into this band. The average UK EPC score is approximately 60 points — squarely in the D range. If your home is rated D, it's performing about the same as a typical British property.
D-rated homes usually have some energy-saving features but not a comprehensive set. You might have double glazing but poor loft insulation, or a modern boiler but single-skin walls without insulation. There's typically significant room for improvement.
Common characteristics:
- Double glazing (may be older units)
- Some loft insulation (possibly below recommended depth)
- Gas central heating with an older boiler
- Partial or no wall insulation
- Mix of efficient and traditional lighting
Estimated annual energy costs: £1,400–£1,900.
Rating E — Below Average (39–54 Points)
Band E is below the national average and represents around 18–20% of UK homes. This is the current minimum legal requirement for renting — landlords cannot let properties rated below E without an exemption.
E-rated properties tend to be older buildings (pre-1970s) with limited or no insulation upgrades. They often have single glazing in some areas, older heating systems, and solid walls that haven't been insulated.
Estimated annual energy costs: £1,900–£2,600. Improving from E to C could save £600–£1,200 per year.
Rating F — Poor (21–38 Points)
Band F indicates a poorly performing property, affecting roughly 5–6% of UK homes. Properties rated F cannot legally be rented out under current MEES regulations unless the landlord has registered a valid exemption.
These properties often have no insulation whatsoever, single glazing, and old, inefficient heating systems. Many are pre-war solid-wall properties in rural areas. The energy costs for F-rated homes can be extremely high, contributing to fuel poverty.
Estimated annual energy costs: £2,600–£3,500+.
Rating G — Very Poor (1–20 Points)
Band G is the lowest rating, affecting around 2–3% of UK homes. These are the most energy-inefficient properties in the country, with the highest running costs and greatest environmental impact.
G-rated homes are often very old properties with no insulation, no central heating (relying on electric heaters or open fires), single glazing, and significant draughts. Like F-rated properties, they cannot be legally rented out without an exemption.
Estimated annual energy costs: £3,500–£5,000+. The occupants of G-rated homes are often in fuel poverty.
UK EPC Statistics
Here's a snapshot of how the UK housing stock is distributed across EPC bands (based on government data for England and Wales):
| Rating | % of Homes | Approx. Number |
|---|---|---|
| 1.5% | ~420,000 | |
| 3.5% | ~980,000 | |
| 17% | ~4.8 million | |
| 40% | ~11.2 million | |
| 20% | ~5.6 million | |
| 6% | ~1.7 million | |
| 2.5% | ~700,000 |
These figures are approximate and shift as new properties are built and existing ones are improved. The trend is gradually improving, driven by building regulations, retrofit programmes, and increased awareness of energy efficiency.
How EPC Ratings Affect Property Value
Research consistently shows that higher EPC ratings correlate with higher property values. Key findings include:
- 1–3% value increase per band improvement: Moving from D to C can add £3,000–£8,000 to a typical property's value.
- Buyer awareness is growing: With rising energy costs, buyers increasingly factor in running costs. Properties with poor ratings can sit on the market longer.
- Mortgage products: Some lenders offer "green mortgages" with better rates for energy-efficient homes (typically EPC A–C).
- Future-proofing: As minimum standards tighten (the proposed C requirement for rentals), properties with poor ratings may face reduced marketability.
Check Your Property's Rating
Find out where your home sits on the A–G scale — it's free and takes seconds.
Check My EPC →Improving Your EPC Rating
No matter what your current rating, there are always steps you can take to improve it. The most impactful improvements typically include:
- Loft insulation — cheap, easy, and one of the biggest wins (can improve by 1–2 bands)
- Cavity wall insulation — if your walls have cavities, filling them is highly cost-effective
- Upgrading your boiler — replacing an old boiler with a modern condensing model or heat pump
- Double or triple glazing — replacing single-glazed windows
- Solar panels — generating your own electricity significantly boosts your score
For a comprehensive guide, see our article on how to improve your EPC rating. You may also be eligible for government grants to help fund some of these improvements.