An energy performance certificate can help a landlord start a conversation about improving a rented home. It should be read alongside the condition of the building, the proposed work and the needs of the people living there. A headline claim that a product will raise every home’s rating is not a substitute for that assessment.
Read the certificate carefully
Government guidance explains that an EPC includes an energy rating and recommendations for improvement. Its calculation uses standard assumptions rather than the particular household’s appliance ownership and heating habits. The figures therefore should not be presented as a promise of an individual tenant’s future bills.
Check that you are using the certificate for the correct address and note when it was produced. Identify any changes made to the building since the assessment. Ask an accredited assessor what evidence is relevant if earlier insulation or other work is not reflected in the available record.
Turn recommendations into questions
For each proposed measure, ask what problem it addresses, whether the building is suitable and what preparatory work is needed. Obtain a written specification before comparing quotations. Two prices may cover different materials, access arrangements, making good or follow-up work.
Ask how measures interact. A heating proposal needs to suit the home, while changes to the building fabric also require attention to moisture and ventilation. Energy Saving Trust advises asking installers what ventilation measures they plan to add when carrying out energy saving improvements. Do not seal a ventilation opening simply because it appears to be a source of draughts.
Plan the work with the resident
Explain the likely disruption, agree access and provide a contact for questions. Ask the installer how new controls will be demonstrated and what instructions will be supplied. Keep installation records, guarantees and any further recommendations with the property documents.
Separate the project from the compliance check
Before letting or committing to works, check the current rules and any relevant exemptions for the property’s jurisdiction. A recommendation report alone does not establish compliance, and this project-planning guide does not set out every minimum energy standard or future policy change.
Prioritise an informed specification and competent assessment over claims of guaranteed rent increases or a fixed percentage reduction in bills. Review the completed work against what was agreed, and ask what further assessment is appropriate.
Sources: GOV.UK guidance on EPCs for dwellings; Energy Saving Trust, ventilation guidance. Checked 3 November 2026.