Which? published "Reforming EPCs to support households in the energy transition" in July 2024, a policy report setting out consumer research on how energy performance certificates (EPCs) are used and how their content and design could change1. The findings were later carried into a September 2024 publication, "Transforming EPCs: Consumer Research Insights and Recommendations"1.
The research used a sample of 18 homeowners across the UK. Between May and July 2024, Jigsaw Research conducted a three-stage qualitative study on behalf of Which?1. Half of the sample from the first two stages, nine people, took part in the final stage and were shown three different mock EPC designs1. Among the findings, only 3 out of 11 households with an EPC audit would recommend updating their EPC to friends or family, and most participants, eight out of 11, said their EPC did not appear to be accurate, reporting that descriptions of key aspects of their home such as windows, roofs and heating systems were incorrect1. One in four EPCs have discrepancies of more than 10% when reporting the property's floor area1.
Which? set out six principles for improving the content and design of EPCs, with examples of how each could be applied1. These include reducing the validity of EPCs to five years and making it easier for consumers to update their EPC by submitting evidence of improvements made by certified traders; introducing a dashboard with four metrics and the key actions the property owner should take; and considering improvements to the training and auditing of assessors that would improve the accuracy of assessments1.
"Currently, EPCs are valid for 10 years, which means they are often outdated."
EPCs were introduced gradually for properties starting in 20081. They are legally required when selling a home and can be valuable for informing decisions during the buying process1. The content and design of the EPC in England and Wales is different from the EPC in Scotland1. In 2020, the UK government launched an Action Plan aimed at making EPCs more "trusted, accurate, and reliable"1. According to the government's 2021 Progress Report, 11 out of the 35 actions were completed, with progress underway on the rest1. In 2023 the Scottish government launched a consultation covering the design and content of EPCs in Scotland and is expected to report on its findings towards the end of 20241. The report states that currently no date has yet been announced for when the consultation will be launched1.
The report also refers to the new version of the rating method, which will be called the Home Energy Model, and says it will allow more options and details to be included so that the ratings will more accurately reflect the features of the property1. It notes that energy bills are expected to rise by over 50% this winter1.
Why it matters for households
An EPC is the document a household meets when a home is bought, sold or rented, and it is also used to determine eligibility for government grants and green financial products1. Its accuracy therefore affects what a household is told about a property's running costs and what work it might need. The research found that energy efficiency is not a primary motivator for consumers, with cost and comfort placed above it, and that even when owners made energy improvements these were not prompted or informed by the EPC1. For a home's energy independence, that matters: the certificate is one of the few points at which a household receives structured information about its heating, hot water and lighting costs, and the research suggests that information is often not trusted or acted on1.
What happens next
The Scottish government consultation on the design and content of EPCs in Scotland is expected to report on its findings towards the end of 20241. The report states that no date has yet been announced for when the consultation will be launched1. No further timetable for reform in England and Wales is given in the report1.
Sources1 cited
- Transforming EPCs: Consumer Research Insights v2, media.product.which.co.uk