world
Survey Finds 77% of UK Homeowners Expect EPC Rating to Influence Future Purchases
A poll of more than 2,000 homeowners shows most now view energy performance certificates as a key factor when buying property. The same survey found rising awareness of running costs and a reported 1.6% price premium for higher-rated homes in England.
pinsentmasons.comAudio version
Tap play to generate a narrated version.
Developing·Limited corroboration so far. This page will refresh as more sources emerge.
More than three-quarters of UK homeowners say an energy performance certificate rating will matter when they next buy a home, according to a survey commissioned by Nationwide Building Society. The poll of over 2,000 homeowners, conducted by Censuswide in May, also found that 78% expect buyers to pay more for energy-efficient properties.
Among respondents aged 25-34, 32% anticipate a significant premium, compared with 5% of those aged 55 and older.
Nationwide reported that 69% of homeowners believe EPC ratings and energy efficiency now carry more weight than when they purchased their current property. Despite this shift, 54% said they did not know their home's current rating. Among those who have made efficiency improvements in the past decade, the most common steps were installing solar panels, adding insulation, and replacing windows and doors with energy-saving models.
A senior economist at Nationwide stated that 73% of homeowners who upgraded reported lower energy bills afterward. The same group indicated they were more likely to stay in their homes longer as a result. Nationwide's analysis of English properties with available EPC data showed owner-occupied homes rated A or B command a 1.6% price premium over those rated D.
A lead analyst at Hamptons noted that buyers increasingly seek at least a C rating and factor upgrade costs into offers for lower-rated homes.
