What Is a
Good EPC Rating?
A good UK EPC rating is C or higher. A and B are excellent. C is the modern target plus the future rental minimum. D is below average. E is poor but currently legal for rentals. F and G are very poor and not lettable.
A good UK EPC rating is C or higher. A (SAP 92+) is excellent plus rare outside new builds with renewables. B (SAP 81 to 91) is the modern UK new-build standard. C (SAP 69 to 80) is the target for most retrofits plus the rental minimum from October 2030. D (SAP 55 to 68) is below average plus the most common rating for pre-1990 UK housing. E (SAP 39 to 54) is poor but currently legal for rentals until October 2030. F (SAP 21 to 38) plus G (SAP 1 to 20) are very poor plus not lettable without registered exemption. UK average is around D. Around 52 percent of private rental sector properties currently sit below C in 2026.
The figures that matter
Good rating
C plus above is considered good. A plus B are excellent. C is the modern UK retrofit target.
New build standard
Most UK new builds since 2015 rate B. Reflects current Building Regulations Part L.
UK average
Mode rating for pre-1990 UK housing stock plus close to UK average overall.
Not lettable
Cannot be let as rental properties without registered exemption under MEES Regulations 2015.
Four things to consider
C is the practical target
Modern retrofit target plus rental minimum from October 2030. Achievable for most UK homes.
A and B are excellent
A is rare outside new builds with renewables. B is the modern new-build standard.
D is below average
Common for pre-1990 UK housing. Above the legal rental minimum but well below the 2030 target.
F and G cannot be let
MEES Regulations 2015 prohibit letting properties rated F or G without registered exemption.
What each EPC band actually means in practice
EPC ratings run from A (most efficient) to G (least efficient) plus map onto SAP scores from 1 to 100+. Understanding what each band means helps with buying, selling, renting plus investment decisions.
EPC A (SAP 92+). Excellent. Rare outside new builds with significant renewables (solar PV plus heat pumps plus full insulation). Annual energy bills typically below £800 for a 3-bed semi. Premium mortgage rates available. Holds value well in slow markets.
EPC B (SAP 81 to 91). Modern new build standard. Reflects Building Regulations Part L compliance. Annual energy bills £800 to £1,300 for typical 3-bed semi. Mortgage products commonly available. Strong resale value. Future-proof against rising regulatory standards.
EPC C (SAP 69 to 80). Target rating for retrofits. Future rental minimum from 1 October 2030. Typical good achievement for older properties after insulation, modern boiler plus controls. Annual energy bills £1,500 to £1,900 for 3-bed semi. Most mortgage products available.
EPC D (SAP 55 to 68). Below average. Mode rating for pre-1990 UK housing. Currently legal for rentals plus sales but the 2030 deadline brings pressure to upgrade. Annual energy bills £1,800 to £2,300 for 3-bed semi. Some buy-to-let mortgage products excluded.
EPC E (SAP 39 to 54). Poor. Current legal minimum for rental tenancies. Bills run £500 to £1,000 higher than C-rated equivalents. Mortgage product restrictions increasing. From October 2030, no longer compliant for rentals.
EPC F (SAP 21 to 38). Very poor. Cannot be let as a rental in England plus Wales without registered exemption. Bills can run £2,800 to £3,500 for 3-bed semi. Mortgage availability limited. Resale impact significant.
EPC G (SAP 1 to 20). Worst category. Cannot be let. Bills can exceed £3,500 for 3-bed semi. Mortgage availability very limited. Often Victorian or Edwardian solid wall homes with old heating plus minimal insulation.
What different audiences should aim for:
- Owner-occupiers staying long-term. Aim for C as a target. Bill savings pay back upgrade costs across 5 to 10 years. B reachable with renewables.
- Owner-occupiers planning to sell within 5 years. Aim for C minimum. Lower ratings increasingly affect offers plus sale time. Improvements often pay back in higher offer.
- Landlords with rental tenancies. Aim for C ahead of October 2030 deadline. £10,000 cost cap protects against unlimited spend. Plan upgrades early.
- New build buyers. Should expect B as standard. A available with significant renewables. Anything below B in a new build is a warning sign.
- Buy-to-let investors. Avoid F plus G. Target C for long-term portfolio. Properties below D face increasing mortgage product restrictions.
UK property mix by EPC band (approximate 2026 figures):
- A: Less than 1 percent.
- B: 5 to 8 percent (mostly new builds).
- C: 35 to 40 percent (recently improved homes plus newer mid-2000s builds).
- D: 35 to 40 percent (most common, mostly pre-1990 housing).
- E: 10 to 15 percent (older homes with limited improvements).
- F: 2 to 4 percent (very old or unimproved homes).
- G: Less than 1 percent (rare).
Real number ranges
Annual energy bills by EPC rating (3-bed semi)
EPC rating significance timeline
F+G prohibited for rentals
Cannot let properties rated F or G without registered exemption. £5,000 penalty per breach.
E is current rental minimum
MEES Regulations 2015 set E as the legal minimum. Compliant until October 2030.
HEM:EPC begins
New methodology takes over. EPCs issued before this date under SAP/RdSAP remain valid for 10 years.
C becomes rental minimum
All UK rental tenancies must achieve C or higher. £10,000 cost cap protects landlords.
Four EPC rating priorities to know
C is the practical target
Future rental minimum from October 2030. Modern retrofit target. Achievable for most UK homes.
F and G cannot be let
MEES Regulations 2015 prohibit letting these properties without registered exemption.
B is the modern new build standard
Anything below B in a new build is a warning sign. Building Regulations Part L compliance.
D is the UK average
Below average rating. Currently legal but increasing pressure to upgrade ahead of 2030.
Compare the options
Good EPC rating (C+)
- ✓SAP 69+ (band C, B or A).
- ✓£800 to £1,900 annual energy bills for 3-bed semi.
- ✓Compliant beyond 2030 rental rules.
- ✓Wider mortgage product access. Buy-to-let plus residential.
- ✓Strong resale value. Buyers factor EPC into offers.
Poor EPC rating (E or below)
- ✗SAP 54 or lower (band E, F or G).
- ✗£2,200 to £3,500+ annual energy bills.
- ✗Non-compliant from October 2030 for rentals (E).
- ✗Cannot be let at all (F and G) without exemption.
- ✗Lower resale value. £1,000 to £5,000 typical offer reduction.
Understanding what counts as a good EPC rating helps with property decisions across buying, selling, renting plus investment. Our full EPC Ratings hub covers Energy Performance Certificates plus MEES regulations across UK homes plus rental properties.
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This article is one chapter inside our complete EPC Ratings knowledge base. The hub covers Energy Performance Certificates plus MEES regulations across UK homes plus rental properties.
More on EPC ratings
Three further EPC rating articles in the same hub group cover related questions. The first is what is epc rating c for the target band detail. The second covers what is epc rating d for the UK average band. The third is is epc rating e bad for the poor-rating context.