5 ways to improve your EPC rating before you sell or let

Updated July 2026

A better EPC rating can mean lower bills for buyers or tenants, easier compliance with letting rules, and a stronger listing. Your certificate comes with a personalised recommendations report, but these five improvements are the ones that usually make the biggest difference for the least outlay.

1. Top up loft insulation

Heat rises, and an under-insulated loft is one of the quickest ways to lose it. If your loft has less than the recommended depth of insulation, topping it up is inexpensive and can noticeably improve your score.

2. Draught-proof doors and windows

Simple draught excluders, letterbox brushes and sealing gaps around window and door frames reduce heat loss for very little cost, and are quick for tenants or homeowners to do themselves.

3. Switch to LED lighting

Replacing older bulbs with LEDs is one of the cheapest changes you can make and is factored directly into the EPC's lighting score.

4. Fit thermostatic radiator valves and a room thermostat

Better heating controls let you heat only the rooms you're using and avoid overheating the property, which the assessment rewards as improved efficiency.

5. Consider cavity wall insulation

If your property has an uninsulated cavity wall, filling it is one of the higher-impact improvements available and is often eligible for grant funding schemes — worth checking before you pay for it outright.

Every property is different — your own EPC recommendations report will list the improvements ranked by impact for your specific home. If in doubt, an assessor can talk you through what would move the needle most.