Blackpool is the worst area of the UK for EPC ratings, where nearly three quarters (74.1%) of homes have an EPC rating between D and G.
The town’s history as a popular tourist means there are large amounts of outdated guesthouses and rentals – while the decline in its appeal as a holiday destination means it’s experienced limited investment in recent years.
The research, from rental firm UNCLE, said other poor performers are Southend-on Sea and Bradford, where 69.7% and 68.8% of homes have an EPC rating below C.
At the other end of the spectrum, Milton Keynes has the most energy efficient homes, where just over 60% of homes in the city have an EPC rating of C or above.
This is likely down to the town having an influx of newly built homes over the past 10 years, with new developments continuing as plans for a further 3,500 homes have been proposed.
Luke Wooffindin at Safe Guard Plumbing said: “One of the important considerations when it comes to plumbing that can drastically improve the Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) rating of a house is changing an old non-condensing boiler for a high-efficiency condensing boiler.
“Most modern boilers operate above 90% efficiency, while an old model could be working well at only 60% to 70% efficiency. In terms of cost, the boiler itself might run anywhere from £1,500 to £2,500, and installation can be another added cost of £500-£1,500, depending on whether pipework needs updating or if it’s a combi-combi swap or more complex system change.”
Wooffindin added: “Smart heading controls are also really solid investments. A Nest or Hive thermostat allows homeowners to better schedule and control their heating, and when put in individual thermostatic radiator valves, each room can be regulated according to need.
“EPC assessors look favourably upon zoned heating controls, and these upgrades typically cost around £250 to £400 for the smart thermostat and another £20-40 per TRV.
“Another area typically ignored is pipe insulation. Lagging the hot water and heating pipes helps keep heat, especially in lofts, garages, or outer walls – retaining heat in the system. This is also pretty cost-effective: £2 to £5 per meter for pipe insulation, and an average house may need roughly 20 to 30 meters (60 to 100 feet). It really is quite small for a cost but the returns are good when looked at in terms of energy retained.”