EPC Recommendations for London Properties: What to Do Next
Getting an Energy Performance Certificate is an important step when preparing a London property for sale or rent. But receiving the certificate is not necessarily the end of the process.
Your EPC includes an energy efficiency rating and recommendations for potential improvements. Understanding those recommendations can help you decide what to do next, particularly if you are preparing a property for marketing or managing a rental property.
This guide explains how to review your EPC recommendations, what to consider before making improvements and how to prepare the rest of your property for sale or rent.
Start by Checking Your EPC
Before making any decisions, check that the EPC belongs to the correct property and review the main information on the certificate.
Look at:
Property address
EPC rating
Certificate date
Expiry date
Energy efficiency information
Improvement recommendations
If you are unsure how to interpret the rating or information on the certificate, read our guide on How to Read an EPC Certificate: A Simple Guide.
You can also use the official GOV.UK Find an Energy Certificate service to check whether an existing certificate is available for your property. GOV.UK states that EPCs are generally valid for 10 years.
What Are EPC Recommendations?
An EPC contains recommendations for improving the energy performance of a property.
These recommendations can relate to areas such as:
Insulation
Heating systems
Heating controls
Windows and glazing
Lighting
Renewable technologies
Hot water systems
The recommendations are specific to the property assessed. Therefore, homeowners should not assume that every suggested improvement will be suitable or necessary for their particular circumstances.
An EPC recommendation is useful information, but it does not automatically mean that you need to carry out every improvement immediately.
Check the Rating Before Planning Improvements
Your EPC rating provides an overall indication of the property’s energy efficiency.
The rating runs from A to G, with A representing the highest energy efficiency and G the lowest.
If you have recently received an EPC, take time to understand the current rating before deciding what to change.
For example, a property with a D rating may have different priorities from a property with an F rating. The appropriate improvements will also depend on the property’s construction, heating system, insulation and other characteristics.
If your property currently has a D rating, our guide How to Improve Your EPC Rating From D to C in London explains some of the measures that may help improve energy performance.
Do You Need to Improve the EPC Before Selling?
Not every property owner needs to carry out improvements simply because an EPC contains recommendations.
If you are selling a property, the immediate priority is to make sure you understand the applicable EPC requirements and have the necessary documentation ready before marketing.
GOV.UK states that an EPC must be ordered for potential buyers before a property is marketed for sale, subject to the applicable rules and exemptions.
If you are preparing to sell, our guide EPC Before Marketing a Property: What Sellers Need to Know explains this process in more detail.
Once the EPC is sorted, you can focus on preparing the rest of the property listing.
Landlords Should Pay Particular Attention to the Rating
Landlords have additional considerations when reviewing an EPC.
If you are preparing a rental property, check:
The current EPC rating
The certificate expiry date
Whether the property is covered by relevant minimum energy efficiency requirements
Whether any exemptions may apply
The recommendations included on the certificate
Our recent guide EPC for Landlords: What London Property Owners Need to Know Before Renting explains the main EPC considerations for London landlords.
There is also increasing attention on future energy-efficiency requirements for private rented properties. If you are a landlord, it is sensible to monitor current government guidance rather than relying on older EPC information.
What If Your EPC Has Expired?
If your certificate has expired, or you cannot find a valid EPC, you may need to arrange a new assessment.
Start by checking the official EPC register before booking another assessment.
If a new certificate is required, GOV.UK advises property owners to arrange an assessment with an accredited assessor.
For more information, see our guide EPC Certificate Renewal: When London Landlords Need One.
You can also read How to Prepare for an EPC Assessment in London: A Practical Checklist before your appointment.
Review Improvements Before Spending Money
An EPC recommendation should be treated as a starting point for understanding potential improvements.
Before spending money, consider:
1. The condition of the property
A modern heating system may already be performing well, while an older property may have several areas where improvements could be considered.
2. The type of property
A Victorian terrace, modern flat and detached house can have very different construction and heating characteristics.
3. Your plans for the property
Your priorities may be different if you are:
Selling soon
Preparing a rental property
Living in the property long term
Planning a renovation
4. The potential cost
Energy-efficiency improvements can involve different levels of investment. Consider the expected benefit, installation requirements and your own plans for the property before committing to work.
Do Improvements Guarantee a Higher EPC Rating?
Not necessarily.
An EPC rating is calculated using the information gathered about the property and the applicable assessment methodology. Making one change does not guarantee a specific new rating.
If you carry out significant energy-efficiency improvements and want to understand the property’s current performance, you may decide to arrange a new assessment when appropriate.
For more information about what assessors look at, see What Does an EPC Assessment Check? A Room-by-Room Guide for London Homeowners.
Once Your EPC Is Ready, Prepare the Property Listing
Your EPC is only one part of preparing a property for sale or rent.
You should also check:
Property photography
Floor plan
Property description
Room measurements
Key property features
Relevant property documents
Marketing information
Our Property Listing Checklist London: What to Prepare Before You Market provides a useful checklist for bringing these elements together.
Professional photography can help present the property visually, while a floor plan helps potential buyers or tenants understand the layout.
You can also read Professional Floor Plans London: Why Buyers Love Floor Plans and Property Photography London: Why Professional Photos Matter for more information.
Consider Combining Your Property Services
If you are preparing a property for marketing, arranging an EPC, photography and floor plan separately can mean managing several appointments.
A combined property marketing package may be more convenient for some homeowners, landlords and estate agents.
Our guide Property Marketing Package London: EPC, Photography & Floor Plans explains how these services can work together.
The three services have different purposes:
EPC: provides information about energy performance.
Photography: presents the property’s appearance.
Floor plan: shows the property’s layout.
Together, they can provide useful information for people viewing a property listing online.
What Should You Do After Receiving an EPC?
A simple process is:
Check the property details.
Confirm the EPC rating.
Check the certificate date and expiry.
Read the recommendations.
Consider whether any improvements are relevant to your plans.
Check the current requirements if you are selling or renting.
Prepare your photography and floor plan.
Review the complete property listing before it goes live.
If you have just completed an EPC assessment, our article After an EPC Assessment: What to Do Next in London covers the next steps in more detail.
Final Checklist
Before putting your London property on the market, check:
☐ Valid EPC available
☐ Property details on the EPC are correct
☐ EPC rating reviewed
☐ Recommendations reviewed
☐ Relevant requirements checked
☐ Property photography arranged
☐ Floor plan arranged
☐ Property description prepared
☐ Listing information checked
☐ Documents supplied to your estate or letting agent
Final Thoughts
An EPC gives you useful information about the energy performance of your property, but the recommendations should be considered alongside your property type, budget and plans.
If you are selling or renting, start by checking whether your EPC is valid and understanding the current requirements. Then prepare the other parts of your property listing, including photography, floor plans and accurate property information.
For official information, always check the latest GOV.UK Energy Performance Certificate guidance before making decisions about EPC requirements.
If you need an EPC, professional property photography or a floor plan in London, contact Urgent EPC to discuss your requirements.
