EPC rating for a 1920s and 1930s home
The short answer
- 40% of homes built between 1919 and 1944 are EPC band C or better, against 56% of all homes
- 65 points on average, band D
- Landlords need band C by 1 October 2030
Updated 25 September 2026. Every figure on this page comes from official statistics and our published model; see where our data comes from.
40% of homes in England built between 1919 and 1944 are EPC band C or better, against 56% of all homes. Their average rating is 65 points, band D, and 8% are band E or worse.
How 1920s and 1930s homes rate
Mostly band D, 53%. There are about 3.7 million of these homes in England; the table shows how their EPC bands compare with all homes.
| EPC band | 1919 to 1944 | All homes |
|---|---|---|
| A/B | under 1% | 4% |
| C | 39% | 52% |
| D | 53% | 35% |
| E | 5% | 6% |
| F | 2% | 2% |
| G | under 1% | under 1% |
| Average rating | 65 (band D) | 68 (band D) |
What these homes are like
Walls: the most common is solid walls with no insulation, 42%. Loft insulation and double glazing are common in homes of every age.
| Feature | 1919 to 1944 | All homes |
|---|---|---|
| Solid walls, not insulated | 42% | 24% |
| Solid walls, insulated | 4% | 4% |
| Cavity walls, not insulated | 20% | 19% |
| Cavity walls, insulated | 33% | 50% |
| Loft insulation 150mm or more | 51% | 52% |
| Loft insulation under 100mm, or none | 10% | 7% |
| Double glazing throughout | 84% | 89% |
| Gas heating | 93% | 85% |
| Heat pump | 1% | 2% |
How much gas they use
A median 11,745 kWh of gas a year for homes built between 1919 and 1944, against 10,012 kWh for all homes, from meter readings.
| Built | Median gas a year | Median gas per square metre (houses) |
|---|---|---|
| 1919 to 1944 | 11,745 kWh | 122 kWh |
| All homes | 10,012 kWh | 105 kWh |
Getting to band C
For a 1930s semi with unfilled cavity walls, about £2,675 in our model, starting from band D. Our model starts a 1930s semi with unfilled cavity walls at 63 points and a 1930s semi with solid walls at 59; the survey average for these homes is 65.
A 1930s semi with unfilled cavity walls
Our model starts it at about 63 points, band D. The cheapest route to band C costs about £2,675:
| Upgrade, cheapest per point first | Points | Cost | Reaches |
|---|---|---|---|
| Smart heating controls | +3 | £275 | Band D |
| LED lighting throughout | +2 | £200 | Band D |
| Cavity wall insulation | +8 | £2,200 | Band C |
Check your own home in the EPC calculator.
A 1930s semi with solid walls
Our model starts it at about 59 points, band D. The cheapest route to band C costs about £6,475:
| Upgrade, cheapest per point first | Points | Cost | Reaches |
|---|---|---|---|
| Smart heating controls | +3 | £275 | Band D |
| LED lighting throughout | +2 | £200 | Band D |
| Solar PV panels (4kW) | +8 | £6,000 | Band C |
Check your own home in the EPC calculator.
Rules and grants
Landlords need band C by 1 October 2030. Check a rented home with the landlord EPC calculator.
ECO4 can fund insulation for households on qualifying benefits until 31 December 2026, and the Boiler Upgrade Scheme gives £7,500 off a heat pump. Read more about heat pumps in a 1930s semi, is cavity wall insulation worth it, solid wall insulation cost, or see EPC ratings for every age of home. Other ages of home: Victorian, 1950s, 1970s, 1980s and 1990s and new build.
How we worked this out
EPC bands and home features: English Housing Survey 2024, live tables DA7101, DA6201 and DA6101 (MHCLG, updated 9 July 2026), England. Gas use: NEED consumption tables 2026 (DESNZ), 2024 meter readings, England and Wales, whose age bands differ slightly from the survey's. The routes to band C are our simple EPC points model, the same as our EPC calculator, not the government's SAP software, for a home with loft insulation, double glazing and a gas boiler under 15 years old.
Frequently asked questions
What EPC rating does a 1920s and 1930s home usually have?
Band D on average: homes built between 1919 and 1944 average 65 points in the English Housing Survey 2024, against 68 for all homes. About 40% are band C or better, and 8% are band E or worse.
Can a 1920s and 1930s home reach EPC band C?
Yes: 40% of homes built between 1919 and 1944 are already band C or better. For a 1930s semi with unfilled cavity walls, about £2,675 in our model, starting from band D.
Why do older homes have lower EPC ratings?
Walls are a big part of it. The rating models what a home costs to heat per square metre, and solid walls lose far more heat than filled cavity walls; 79% of homes built before 1919 have solid walls with no insulation.
Data sources
- Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government, English Housing Survey live tables on energy performance, DA7101, DA6201 and DA6101, 2024.
- Department for Energy Security and Net Zero, NEED consumption data tables 2026, headline Table 7 and gas per square metre Table 4.2.
- Our EPC calculator points model, js/epc-plan.js.