Overview
- Nationwide Building Society published a survey this week of more than 2,000 UK homeowners showing 77% believe an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) rating will be important when choosing a property in future.
- Seventy-eight percent of homeowners expect buyers to pay more for energy-efficient homes and younger adults are far more likely to expect a large premium than older cohorts.
- Nationwide’s market analysis found that owner-occupied A or B rated homes in England attract about a 1.6% price premium compared with D-rated homes, while the worst-rated properties (F or G) are worth less.
- Nearly three-quarters of owners who made efficiency improvements reported lower energy bills, yet 54% of homeowners do not know their current EPC and many say upfront costs stop them from upgrading.
- The research places current buyer demand and retrofit gains in context by noting that around 40% of homes now rate C or above compared with 14% in 2009 and that upgrading to a C could cut annual bills by roughly £400 for a typical home.