Flat Renovation for EPC Compliance - Penzance
The job
A landlord needed to bring a Penzance flat up to the minimum Energy Performance Certificate rating required to let it legally. Most of the improvement work was structural - the builders were insulating the granite walls - but the electrical installation also needed updating, and with work already underway the landlord took the opportunity to freshen the flat up for incoming tenants.
What I did
I installed a storage heater on a dedicated circuit, which directly improves the EPC rating alongside the insulation work being done by the builders. With the existing cables in reasonable condition, there was no need to rewire - instead I adapted the layout to suit the updated flat, moving electrical points around the kitchen and fitting new faceplates throughout to give the property a consistent, updated finish.
What an EPC rating means for landlords
An Energy Performance Certificate rates how energy efficient a property is, on a scale from A (most efficient) to G (least). It’s calculated from a range of factors - insulation, heating systems, glazing, and lighting - and gives a snapshot of the property’s likely running costs.
For rental properties in England and Wales, the minimum legal requirement is currently a rating of E. You can’t legally let a property to new tenants if it falls below that threshold, and there are ongoing proposals to raise the minimum to C in the coming years - which will affect a significant number of older properties.
Improving a rating usually involves a combination of approaches. The biggest gains typically come from insulation - walls, loft, floors - which is why the builders’ work on the granite walls was central to this project. Heating systems also play a significant role: storage heaters, heat pumps, and underfloor heating all contribute positively, as does switching from direct electric heating to more efficient alternatives where the building fabric supports it. Lighting is a smaller factor but easy to address: replacing older fittings with LED throughout is one of the quickest wins available.
For landlords, it’s worth viewing an EPC improvement not just as a compliance exercise but as something that makes the property more competitive. Lower running costs are a genuine selling point for tenants, and a better-rated property is easier to let at a reasonable rent.