There are so many moving parts to consider when you’re a landlord, however something you should be making a priority once your property meets all the required living standards is to improve your EPC rating. This is particularly the case if you’re between tenants, as a higher EPC rating can help you to increase your potential monthly yield as the tenants’ bills will be cheaper, as well as of course helping the planet. Whether you’re setting up a business in property or this is your first property, focusing on your EPC is absolutely worth it, both short term and long term. We’re here to introduce a range of different ways that you can improve your EPC rating, from more affordable options to more significant investments.
Upgrade Your Boiler
The first, and probably the most significant, thing you can do in order to improve your EPC rating is to upgrade your boiler. An old or inefficient boiler can be such a huge drain on energy, as well as being inconsistent and unreliable. All of this results in expensive bills, a waste of energy and often uncomfortable living conditions for tenants who can’t rely on the boiler for consistent hot water. Instead, when you replace your boiler for a more energy efficient one, your EPC rating can improve by as much as 40 points, which could be enough to move you up two whole ratings. Boilers are expensive to buy and install, however it can be transformative for your EPC rating, the comfort and happiness of your tenants and overall it’s a worthy investment, especially if your boiler is moving towards being 10 years old.
Install Insulation
Something else that can be transformative to your EPC rating and your tenants is to install insulation. Insulation works by trapping air, to help prevent warm air from leaving and cold air from entering, and with this limited heat flow, it lowers the cost of heating your property. It can make a significant difference and is absolutely worth investing in if you haven’t already. The type of insulation you get will depend on your property, however the most common types of insulation are exterior wall insulation, roof and loft, floor, tanks and pipes, and then also conservatory insulation if applicable. Depending on the type of insulation you choose and how much of it you have installed, you would be looking at boosting your rating by between 25 and 30 points when you’ve combined multiple different forms of insulation around the property.
Change To Energy Efficient Bulbs
Next up, we have a really simple one, which is to swap out the bulbs in your property for energy efficient LED options. This won’t cost much to do, and doesn’t improve your rating as significantly as things like a new boiler or insulation, however for the cost, it’s worth doing. LED lights use 90% less electricity than traditional bulbs, largely because they use heat sinks that absorb and dissipate heat, to prevent them from overheating and releasing unnecessary energy. Instead, the energy is released in the form of light, rather than any heat. Change these throughout your property as an easy tickbox to help you save money.
Replace Old Appliances With Energy Efficient Ones
Something else you should do in order to improve your EPC rating is to replace your old appliances with energy efficient ones. Things like your oven, washing machine, fridge freezer and dishwashers can all use a significant amount of energy if they’re old. For example, if a washing machine doesn’t have eco-settings and can only run long cycles, then it’ll be using a lot of unnecessary energy. Same goes with a fridge freezer, an efficient choice is much better for the planet and also cuts energy bills. These might be quite large investments, but can help you to drive up the price of your rental yield, as well as improving living conditions for your tenants.
Consider Replacing Doors and Windows
Another one of the more significant investments you can make to improve your EPC rating is to replace your doors and windows. If you currently have single glazed windows and doors, or your double glazed windows and doors aren’t well sealed or have condensation issues, then looking to get them replaced can help to reduce draughts and the amount of cold air that enters your home. As well as the energy efficiency, new windows and doors can reduce noise, improve curb appeal, reduce issues with damp and mould, as well as make your property more secure. A good set of well fitted windows and doors can last for decades, so this is a worthy investment to make.
Install A Smart Meter
Whilst installing a smart metre won’t directly improve your EPC rating, it can help you to understand where energy is being used in your property to help you make changes that will directly improve your EPC. It can report which appliance is using the most energy, whether it’s your fridge or oven, so you don’t need to replace everything in your home! If general energy usage is high, that’s when you’d look at options like your insulation, windows and boiler to make improvements. Many energy companies will install this for free, as they also send automatic metre readings which benefits them, so it’s absolutely worth doing.
Underfloor Heating
You should also consider underfloor heating as a way to improve your EPC. It can significantly reduce energy consumption and increase efficiency, potentially by up to 30%. This is more efficient as it heats the room from the ground up, resulting in more even heating throughout the space, so less intense heat is required. When you choose underfloor heating, it also doesn’t require convection currents in order to distribute heat around the space, meaning there is less wasted energy. You benefit from less energy usage, you don’t need the heating on for as long, and it provides a more comfortable and consistent temperature.
Solar Panels
Last but not least, we have solar panels. They are another significant option in terms of home renovations to improve the value of your property and also the EPC rating, usually between 15 and 18 points to take you to the next level of your EPC. Prices of solar panels can start from around £8,000, however they require very little maintenance and can add a big chunk to the value of your home. Not to mention, not paying for much energy is a significant saving for tenants, and so you can increase your rental yield, too. This is one of the more expensive investments to make, however they typically last around 30 years, so once they’re installed it’s a fantastic investment to have for your property, whether you plan to keep it or sell it eventually.