EPC C by property type

Getting a 1960s flat or maisonette to EPC C

Mid-century flats vary widely; many rely on electric heating, which weighs on the EPC score.

Why this type behaves the way it does

System or concrete-panel construction
Often electric storage or panel heating
Communal structure limits some external works

Measures that typically reach C

Heating controls

A programmer, a room thermostat and thermostatic radiator valves let the heating run only when and where it’s needed, rather than heating the whole home all the time. Adding the controls a system lacks is inexpensive, improves the EPC, and is one of the simplest ways to trim a tenant’s energy bills.

Loft insulation

Topping up loft insulation to the recommended 270mm is usually the cheapest high-impact improvement, because a quarter of a home’s heat can escape through the roof. It’s quick to install in an accessible loft, rarely needs consent, and the SAP uplift per pound spent is among the best of any measure — which is why it’s almost always the first recommendation on an EPC.

Double glazing

Replacing single-glazed windows with modern double (or secondary) glazing cuts heat loss and draughts and lifts both comfort and the EPC score. In conservation areas or on listed buildings, slim-profile or secondary glazing is often the route that keeps planning happy while still improving performance.

Low-energy lighting

Swapping any remaining halogen or incandescent bulbs for LEDs is the cheapest improvement of all, and it appears on a surprising number of EPCs. It won’t move a property a whole band on its own, but as part of a package it’s an easy, instant win with no installer required.

Hot water cylinder insulation

Where the home has a hot water cylinder, a properly fitted insulating jacket (or upgrading thin existing insulation) plus a cylinder thermostat keeps water hot for longer using less energy. It’s cheap, quick, and a common line on EPCs for older heating systems.

Switching from electric heating and improving controls usually has the biggest impact, though communal ownership can complicate external measures.

Check your property’s real figures

The above is general to the construction type. Enter a postcode for the actual current band, the gap to C, and the costed measures from that property’s own EPC.

Common questions

Is it hard to get a 1960s flat or maisonette to EPC C?

Switching from electric heating and improving controls usually has the biggest impact, though communal ownership can complicate external measures.

Which improvements does a 1960s flat or maisonette usually need?

The measures that most often appear on EPCs for this type are: Heating controls, Loft insulation, Double glazing, Low-energy lighting, Hot water cylinder insulation. The exact set — and the order that's most cost-effective — depends on the individual property, which the checker shows.

What is the deadline and the penalty?

Rented homes need to reach EPC C (or hold a valid exemption) by 1 October 2030. Letting below C without an exemption can attract a penalty of up to £30,000 per property.

Explore EPC C by topic and area

Guides

By property type

By area

Guidance is general to the construction type and indicative; the cost figures in the checker come from each property’s own EPC. EPC data: contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.

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