Energy bills are a significant part of any household budget, and finding ways to reduce them can make a real difference. The good news is that there are plenty of ways to reduce your energy costs without compromising on comfort. Here, the Tenancy Deposit Scheme explores how understanding your Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) and making simple adjustments can lead to savings on your energy bills.
What is an EPC and how can it help reduce your bills?
An Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) is a document that provides an energy efficiency rating for a property. It’s a legal requirement for letting agents or landlords to provide you with a valid EPC when you move into a rented home. The rating ranges from A (most efficient) to G (least efficient) and includes recommendations for improving the property’s energy efficiency.
Legally, the rating for rented properties should be an E at minimum. If you did not receive your EPC, or the rating is lower, contact your landlord or letting agent.
- The EPC gives you a snapshot of how energy-efficient your home is and how much it could cost to heat, light, and power. A higher rating indicates lower energy costs, which means you’ll likely spend less on bills.
- EPCs include tailored recommendations for making the property more energy-efficient. Suggestions could include upgrading insulation, installing double-glazed windows, or using energy-efficient appliances.
- Rented properties must have an EPC rating of E or higher, unless exempt. If your home falls below this standard, your landlord may be legally required to make improvements. Ensuring your property meets these standards can lead to lower energy consumption and reduced bills.
- If you’re planning to move, the EPC can help you compare properties and estimate potential energy costs. Choosing a property with a higher EPC rating could save you money in the long run.
Next, you could save money on your energy bills by improving your home’s energy efficiency in a number of ways –
Central heating
You might be able to save money by changing your heating controls. You might have:
- A thermostat for setting the temperature. Setting your thermostat 1 degree lower could save around 10% on your energy bill.
- A timer or programmer to set when your heating turns on or off. You can save energy by setting your heating to only be on when you need it.
- Controls that let you change the temperature of a single radiator. Try turning radiators down to save energy.
Keep heat in
Reduce draughts in your home by blocking some of the gaps that let air through – for example:
- Keyholes and letterboxes
- Cracks in your floorboards
- A chimney you don’t use
- The gaps at the bottom of your doors.
Attach secondary glazing film to your windows. If you don’t have double-glazing, this is a cheaper way of stopping heat from escaping through your windows. You can usually install secondary glazing film yourself and it’s easy to remove.
Lighting
- Replace any old light bulbs with energy efficient LED bulbs.
- Don’t leave lights on in a room that you’re not using, or in hallways.
- Let as much natural light into your rental property as possible.
If you’re struggling to pay your energy bills, find advice here.
About TDS
The Tenancy Deposit Scheme is part of The Dispute Service (TDS), the largest tenancy deposit protection (by value) and resolution service provider in the UK making life easier for tens of thousands of agents, landlords, developers, and millions of tenants and homebuyers.
Our award-winning customer service is highly rated on both Trustpilot and Google, and we’re backed by the NRLA, Propertymark and RICS.
We provide quick and hassle-free online deposit protection, free guides and information in our online help centre, free dispute resolution and free mid-tenancy mediation for tenants and landlords.
Our free tenant lifecycle app, tlyfe, makes renting smarter. Manage your TDS deposit, get pre-qualified, build your credit ratings, and more.
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