How to improve your EPC rating

Improvements are worth doing roughly in this order — cheapest and highest-impact first. Costs are rough UK averages; get a local quote before committing.

1. Loft insulation — £300–£600

If your loft has less than 270mm of insulation, topping it up is usually the single cheapest point-gain available. Can move a rating by one full band on its own in an under-insulated home.

2. Cavity wall insulation — £500–£1,500

Applies to homes built with a cavity wall (most post-1920s UK housing). A significant chunk of heat loss happens through walls, so this is typically the second-highest-impact improvement.

3. Draught-proofing — £100–£300

Sealing gaps around doors, windows, and floorboards is inexpensive and improves both the score and how the home actually feels to live in.

4. LED lighting — under £100

A small score contribution on its own, but cheap enough to do alongside everything else.

5. A smart thermostat — £150–£250

Improves the "heating controls" element of the assessment, which the EPC scores separately from the boiler itself.

6. Boiler upgrade — £2,000–£4,000

Replacing an old, inefficient boiler is one of the biggest single-item improvements but also the most expensive. Check the government's Boiler Upgrade Scheme before booking — it offers a grant toward low-carbon heating systems including heat pumps.

7. Double glazing — £3,000–£8,000+

Usually the most expensive item on this list, and the one with the longest payback time. Worth prioritising the cheaper items first unless windows are already due for replacement.