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.
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.
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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.