Are you a property owner in Coventry wanting to improve your EPC rating? Improving your Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) is not only a legal requirement for renting or selling a property but also a wise investment that will reduce energy costs in the home.

In this guide, we’ll give EPC essentials: how Coventry property owners can improve their ratings, from upgrading insulation to accessing incentives.

Key Takeaways

Rental properties in Coventry, must ensure their properties have an EPC rating of at least ‘E’ to comply with regulations and avoid statutory fines.

Improving a property’s EPC rating, through upgrades like better insulation and energy-efficient heating systems, can reduce energy bills and also increase the property’s value and rental income.

Financial incentives, such as government grants and local schemes, support owners in making energy efficiency improvements, which are aligned with Coventry’s goal to become a net-zero city by 2030.

What is an EPC?

An Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) is a 3-5 page document which is a comprehensive guide to a property’s energy efficiency. It’s a key instrument that gives potential buyers, tenants, and property owners valuable insights into a property’s energy performance.

By obtaining an EPC, you get a clear snapshot of your property’s energy performance, allowing you to identify areas that need improvement.

EPC Legislation and Regulations

EPC regulations play a critical role in promoting energy efficiency in the private rented sector, particularly for privately owned properties needing an EPC in Coventry.

Since April 2020, it’s mandatory for all existing private rented properties to have an EPC rating of at least E, irrespective of when the tenancy began.

There is no minimum required EPC rating if the property is for sale.

Finding Your EPC

If there is a current EPC for your property, you can conveniently locate it using the official government online epc register. You simply need to input your property’s postcode, street name, town, or the EPC certificate number.

If there is not a current EPC on the register, you can book an EPC online 24/7 through our simple booking system.

Understanding EPC Ratings: How do Coventry properties compare against the UK average?

In 2023, a total of 8,134 were carried out in the Local Authority area of Coventry City Council of which:

• 0.11% were EPC rating A
• 3.32% were EPC rating B
• 47.26% were EPC rating C
• 41.25% were EPC rating D
• 6.61% were EPC rating E
• 1.01% were EPC rating F
• 0.45% were EPC rating G

If your property is in band, E, F or G, you should consider energy saving improvements to improve the rating.

Ways of Improving EPC Ratings

So how can you improve your EPC rating?

There are 4 things that will make the biggest difference to an EPC rating:

• The heating system and controls
• The levels of insulation to walls, floors and roofs.
• The fuel source used to heat the home.
• Solar photovoltaics (solar pv)

In our case study you can see how a landlord used these elements to improve a flat in Coventry epc rating from E to C. 

2 -Heating System and Controls

If you have a gas boiler that was installed before 2005, then you should consider upgrading it to a condensing boiler.

Modern condensing boilers are much more efficient and can improve the EPC rating by 4 to 8 points, depending on the efficiency of the boiler being replaced.

However, simply changing an existing condensing boiler to another newer condensing boiler will give no improvements on the EPC rating.

If you have a bolier and radiators, make sure the system can be controlled by having a room thermostat, a timer/programmer and and thermostatic radiator valves (TRVs).

A full set of heating controls can give you an additional 2-3 points on your EPC rating.

If your home is larger than 150m2, consider installing time and temperature zone controls. This will enable you to control the heating patterns of different parts of the home independently and can further improve the EPC rating by a further 1 – 2 points.

Non Gas Heated Properties

If your home is heated by peak rate electricity, lpg or oil, it’s likely to rate poorly on the EPC, especially if you also have poor insulation. This is because the EPC rating is simply based on the cost to provide heating and hot water to the home. Electric, LPG and Oil are more costly ways to heat a home.

You can consider changing to a cheaper alternative fuel source, such as gas, or a heat pump if gas is not available.

Heat pumps are between 300% and 400% efficient and although they run on electricity they use around a third less electricity. However, typically a heat pump would still be more expensive that a gas boiler system.

If you are in a flat with expensive electric panel heaters, then changing to high heat retention storage heaters will both improve your EPC rating and reduce your energy bills.

These new type storage heaters are a sigificant improvement on the older types storage heaters, so it’s something you should seriously look at.

If you are considering changing your fuel source, always get advise first from a qualified Domestic Energy Assessor first. Your assessor can run draft scenarios on the change and be able to let you know what the exact energy rating would be.

Changing to a cheaper fuel source can dramatically improve your rating from anywhere between 6 to 12 points.

Insulation Upgrades

One of the most effective ways to boost your property’s energy efficiency is insulation upgrades. Because insulation pays for itself usually within 5 years, it is often availabe on grant funded schemes. For instance, installing loft insulation can significantly improve energy efficiency and could be a do-it-yourself project if your loft is easily accessible and not damp.

Loft Insulation

If your loft currently has less than 100mm of loft insulation then this should be upgraded to a minimum of 270mm. Loft insulation can improve the EPC rating by between 2 to 6 points

If your loft currently has more than 100mm of loft insulation then there may be minimal savings made, and often this will not come up as a recomendation on the EPC, then you should look at other improvements that could be made.

Floor Insulation

If you have suspended floors these can be insulated by fitting insulation between the floor joists. Aim to fit between 100 – 150mm.

This also helps to alleviate draughts coming from the floors which adds to the comfort element.

Follow manufacturers instructions on installation techniques for this type of work.

If you don’t want the hassle of insulating a suspended floor yourself, you should look at the Q-Bot system. This is an inovative technique which causes minimal distrubance, where the floor is insulated from below with spray foam by a robot. Insulating a floor will increase the EPC rating by 1 to 2 points.

If you have solid floors these are usually only practical to insulate if you plan to undertake major refurbishment.

Wall Insulation

Wall insulation is usually the best insulation improvement that can be made. Because the majority of heat is lost through the walls, adding wall insulation can improve the EPC rating by up to 8 points.

If your property was built between 1935 and 1982 it would normally have been built with a cavity with no insulation. A special insulating material can be injected between the cavity walls to reduce heat loss.

If your home was built before 1935 it will probably have solid walls, then it would benefit from either internal or external wall insulation.

Wall insulation is a specialist job and a survey has to be carried out to determine the suitability of your property and which is the best solution.

Solar PV

Solar photovoltaic (solar pv) is a simple improvement that causes minimal disturbance to the home owner and can have a significant improvement on the EPC rating.

The EPC recomendation page will usually show the solar pv recomendation at the bottom of the page. This is because the EPC wants to recomend a fabric first approach to saving energy. However, the positive impact that solar pv makes shouldn’t be overlooked.

The example below shows the recomendations on an EPC certificate for a 1950’s mid terrace house.

When looking at the recomendations take note that the new rating on the right hand side is a cumulative figure taking into account that the improvement above it has been carried out.

But in this case we want to look at the the “Typical Yearly Savings” line. You will see that the solar pv savings of £577 per year is more than the combined savings of all the other improvements listed above.

In this example, if only the solar pv improvement was carried out, it would raise the EPC rating from a D68 to a C80. That’s a massive 12 points!

The EPC will only recommend a modest 2.5 kw system, which with the new high efficient panels only equates to around 6 panels. Often a roof can take more, which means the savings would be even greater.

Solar PV is often the single improvement that can have the biggest impact on the EPC rating and can improve the EPC rating from 12 – 19 points. This is because it considerably reduces the electricity running cost of a home.

The cost of solar panels have significantly reduced in recent years and is usually more affordable than most people think.

Things that improve EPC ratings to a lesser degree

There are a few things that improve the EPCs rating significantly less than most people think and are also branded around on many generic websites as making a lot of difference to the EPC ratings.

We are domestic EPC Assessors and carry out EPCs on a daily basis and know the outcome generated by thousands of assessments.The improvements that are usually over hiped include:

Low energy lights. These improve EPC ratings only slightly. To go from having no low energy lights to 100% low energy lights, will only add 2 points to your rating.

Double glazed windows improve EPC rating less than most people think. To go from single glazed windows to 100% double glazing will only improve the rating by 3 points. If you are upgrading existing double glazed windows to newer double glazed windows, this will only add 1 point to your EPC rating.

Things that actually lower your EPC rating

If you have an electric heater as secondary heating, this can lower your rating by up to 4 points.

If you have an open chimney, this can lower your rating by up to 8 points.

So if you have these in your property consider whether they are actually essential.

Changing storage heaters to on peak electric panel heaters will always lower your EPC rating and by as much as 18 points.

If you plan to change your storage heaters, then upgrade them to high heat retension storage heaters, as these will actually improve your EPC rating.

Only use electric panel heaters if your property is well insulated and has a small amount of heat loss walls, floor or roofs, such as a mid floor flat.

Financial Incentives and Support for Energy Efficiency Improvements In Coventry

While improving energy efficiency may seem like an uphill task, financial incentives and support are available to make it more achievable.

Grants and Schemes

There’s an array of grants and funding initiatives available to help residents upgrade their property for better energy efficiency in Coventry. Some schemes cover the full cost of the work, while others offer partial funding.

The Boiler Upgrade Scheme (BUS)

This is a government initiative that contributes £7,500 towards the cost of installing a heat pump or £5,000 towards a biomass boiler. This is to encourage households to move to a low carbon form of heating the home.

In order to be eligible for a BUS-funded installation, a property must:

• be in England and Wales
• have a valid EPC issued within the last 10 years
• (retrofits only) have an existing fossil-fuel or electric heating system that’s being replaced by the BUS-funded installation

Heat pumps are better suited to properties that are well insulated or off the gas grid.

For information on eligibility criteria and how to apply, visit the Government Boiler Upgrade Grant Scheme. 

 

 

 

 

ECO4 (Energy Company Obligation)

Coventry City Council, in collaboration with E.ON, is providing energy efficiency improvements free of charge to select Coventry residents.

You are eligible for the scheme if you are a homeowner or a private renter and meet the following conditions:

• Your home has an EPC rating of D, E, F, or G (for homeowners) or E, F, or G (for private renters), and
• you receive one of these benefits: Income-Based Jobseekers Allowance, Income-Related Employment & Support Allowance, Income Support, Pension Credit Guarantee Credit, Working Tax Credit, Child Tax Credits, Universal Credit, Housing Benefit, Pension Credit Savings Credit, and in some cases, Child Benefit (subject to income limits).
• There is also a seperate element to this scheme called ECO Flex, which is not means tested but dependent on needs defined in a seperate Council approved criteria.

To apply for ECO 4 contact Coventry City Council partner:

Act On Energy

Telephone: 0800 988 2881

Email: [email protected]

The Great British Insulation Scheme

This is both a local and national scheme whereby you may be able to get free or cheaper insulation to reduce your home’s energy bills.

You may be able to get support to install:

• cavity wall insulation
• solid wall insulation (internal or external)
• loft insulation
• flat or pitched roof insulation
• underfloor insulation
• solid floor insulation
• park home insulation
• room-in-roof insulation

You might also get support if your home:

• has an energy performance certificate (EPC) of D to G
• is in Council Tax bands A-D in England or A-E in Scotland or Wales

To see if you are eligible, you can apply to The Great British Insulation Scheme.

Coventry’s Commitment to a Greener Future

Coventry isn’t just about its rich history and vibrant culture. The city is also at the forefront of sustainable living, with a commitment to become a net-zero city by 2030.

The city council plays a key role in setting environmental targets and supporting schemes to facilitate this transition.

Benefits of Going Green

Going green has a multitude of benefits, including reducing the environmental impact, such as:

• Reducing carbon emissions

• Fostering a sense of community

• Enhancing public health

• Increasing social cohesion and well-being among residents.

For property owners, the benefits are even more tangible. Investing in energy-saving measures not only results in decreased utility bills but also leads to improved building value and potentially higher rental income.

So, by going green, you’re not just helping the environment – you’re also boosting your property’s value!

Summary

Improving your property’s EPC rating is more than just a step towards energy efficiency. It’s a journey towards a greener future, a higher property value, and a more sustainable Coventry.

From understanding EPC ratings and regulations to exploring strategies for improvement and available financial incentives, this guide has provided you with a roadmap to raise your EPC rating.

So, why wait? Start your energy-efficient journey today and contribute to Coventry’s commitment to a greener future!

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I find my property’s EPC?

You can find your property’s EPC by using the official online government register. Just input your property’s postcode, street name, town, or the EPC certificate number to locate it.

What factors influence my property’s EPC rating?

Your property’s EPC rating is influenced by factors like the type of heating system, amount of insulation, and the fuel source used. These elements play a key role in determining the overall energy efficiency of your property.

What financial incentives are available for energy efficiency improvements?

There are grants, schemes available to help property owners and tenants improve energy efficiency and save on costs.

How can I contribute to Coventry’s commitment to a greener future?

You can contribute to Coventry’s commitment to a greener future by improving the energy efficiency of your property and increasing its EPC rating, which supports the city’s goal of becoming a net-zero city by 2030. This way, you can actively participate in the city’s sustainability efforts.