EPC rating by house age
The short answer
- 27% of homes built before 1919 are band C or better, against 94% built after 2013
- Average ratings rise from 60 points for the oldest homes to 78 for the newest
- Homes built between the wars use the most gas
Updated 25 September 2026. Every figure on this page comes from official statistics and our published model; see where our data comes from.
The older the home, the lower its EPC rating: 27% of homes built before 1919 are band C or better, against 94% of homes built after 2013. Choose your home's age for what it is typically like and the route to band C.
EPC rating by age of home
Older homes are far more likely to have solid walls. 85% of homes built before 1919 have them and 46% of those built 1919 to 1944; solid walls lose far more heat than filled cavity walls.
| Built | Homes in England | Band C or better | Band E or worse | Average rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Before 1919 | 5.2 million | 27% | 24% | 60 (band D) |
| 1919 to 1944 | 3.7 million | 40% | 8% | 65 (band D) |
| 1945 to 1964 | 4.5 million | 55% | 6% | 67 (band D) |
| 1965 to 1980 | 4.9 million | 62% | 6% | 68 (band D) |
| 1981 to 1990 | 1.8 million | 71% | 6% | 70 (band C) |
| 1991 to 2002 | 2.2 million | 76% | 4% | 71 (band C) |
| 2003 to 2013 | 1.7 million | 90% | 1% | 76 (band C) |
| After 2013 | 1.7 million | 94% | under 1% | 78 (band C) |
| All homes | 25.6 million | 56% | 9% | 68 (band D) |
Gas use by age of home
Homes built between the wars use the most. Per square metre, a house built before 1919 uses a median 110 kWh of gas a year and one built since 2000 uses 74.
| Built | Median gas a year | Median gas per square metre (houses) |
|---|---|---|
| Before 1919 | 11,007 kWh | 110 kWh |
| 1919 to 1944 | 11,745 kWh | 122 kWh |
| 1945 to 1964 | 10,178 kWh | 112 kWh |
| 1965 to 1982 | 9,594 kWh | 106 kWh |
| 1983 to 1992 | 9,303 kWh | 103 kWh |
| 1993 to 1999 | 9,598 kWh | 98 kWh |
| 2000 to 2011 | 9,069 kWh | not published |
| 2012 onwards | 7,181 kWh | not published |
| All homes | 10,012 kWh | 105 kWh |
Your home's age
- EPC rating for a Victorian and Edwardian home, built before 1919
- EPC rating for a 1920s and 1930s home, built between 1919 and 1944
- EPC rating for a 1950s and early 1960s home, built between 1945 and 1964
- EPC rating for a late 1960s and 1970s home, built between 1965 and 1980
- EPC rating for a 1980s and 1990s home, built between 1981 and 2002
- EPC rating for a new build home, built since 2003
Or estimate your own home's rating and the cheapest route to band C in the EPC calculator.
English Housing Survey 2024, live tables DA7101 (MHCLG, updated 9 July 2026), England. Gas use: NEED consumption tables 2026 (DESNZ), 2024 meter readings, England and Wales.
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Frequently asked questions
Do older houses have worse EPC ratings?
Yes. In the English Housing Survey 2024, 27% of homes built before 1919 are band C or better, against 94% of homes built after 2013. The average rating rises from 60 points for the oldest homes to 78 for the newest.
Which homes use the most gas?
Homes built between 1919 and 1944, a median 11,745 kWh a year and 122 kWh per square metre in houses, slightly more than homes built before 1919 (11,007 kWh and 110 kWh). Homes built since 2012 use a median 7,181 kWh.
Data sources
- Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government, English Housing Survey live tables on energy performance, DA7101, 2024.
- Department for Energy Security and Net Zero, NEED consumption data tables 2026.