EPC rating for a Victorian and Edwardian home
The short answer
- 27% of homes built before 1919 are EPC band C or better, against 56% of all homes
- 60 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.
27% of homes in England built before 1919 are EPC band C or better, against 56% of all homes. Their average rating is 60 points, band D, and 24% are band E or worse.
How Victorian and Edwardian homes rate
Most often band D, 49%. There are about 5.2 million of these homes in England; the table shows how their EPC bands compare with all homes.
| EPC band | Before 1919 | All homes |
|---|---|---|
| A/B | under 1% | 4% |
| C | 27% | 52% |
| D | 49% | 35% |
| E | 17% | 6% |
| F | 5% | 2% |
| G | 2% | under 1% |
| Average rating | 60 (band D) | 68 (band D) |
What these homes are like
Walls: most have solid walls with no insulation (79%). Loft insulation and double glazing are common in homes of every age.
| Feature | Before 1919 | All homes |
|---|---|---|
| Solid walls, not insulated | 79% | 24% |
| Solid walls, insulated | 6% | 4% |
| Cavity walls, not insulated | 10% | 19% |
| Cavity walls, insulated | 5% | 50% |
| Loft insulation 150mm or more | 42% | 52% |
| Loft insulation under 100mm, or none | 11% | 7% |
| Double glazing throughout | 69% | 89% |
| Gas heating | 84% | 85% |
| Heat pump | under 1% | 2% |
How much gas they use
A median 11,007 kWh of gas a year for homes built before 1919, against 10,012 kWh for all homes, from meter readings.
| Built | Median gas a year | Median gas per square metre (houses) |
|---|---|---|
| Before 1919 | 11,007 kWh | 110 kWh |
| All homes | 10,012 kWh | 105 kWh |
Getting to band C
For a Victorian mid-terrace with solid walls, about £6,475 in our model, starting from band D. Our model starts a Victorian mid-terrace with solid walls at 60 points; the survey average for these homes is 60.
A Victorian mid-terrace with solid walls
Our model starts it at about 60 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 Victorian terrace, solid wall insulation cost, heat pumps in an old house, 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.
Get quotes to upgrade your home
Tell us about your property and we will pass your request to up to three certified installers who cover your postcode and do the work you choose. It is free and there is no obligation to go ahead.
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Frequently asked questions
What EPC rating does a Victorian and Edwardian home usually have?
Band D on average: homes built before 1919 average 60 points in the English Housing Survey 2024, against 68 for all homes. About 27% are band C or better, and 24% are band E or worse.
Can a Victorian and Edwardian home reach EPC band C?
Yes: 27% of homes built before 1919 are already band C or better. For a Victorian mid-terrace with solid walls, about £6,475 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.