The places in Wales where homes cost more money to run

Joanne Ridout
·3-min read
Six counties in Wales have low EPC rating
-Credit: (Image: WalesOnline/Rob Browne)


New research has revealed the areas of England and Wales with the least energy efficient homes. The top 10 areas with the lowest energy performance certificate (EPC) energy ratings include six Welsh counties, with Gwynedd at number two and only the Isles of Scilly coming out worst, at the top of the table.

Switching website Utility Bidder say they have analysed official government data to reveal the parts of England and Wales with the most energy-efficient dwellings and those with the least, considering average energy consumption, CO2 emissions, heating costs, and hot water costs before awarding each local authority and region an ‘Energy Efficiency Score’ out of 10.

Within the top ten and joining Gwynedd within the top ten for lowest EPC is the Isle of Anglesey at number three, Conwy at four, Ceredigion at five, Powys at joint six with Newcastle-under-Lyme and Carmarthen at 10. For more property, renovation and interior design stories sent to your inbox twice a week sign up to the property newsletter here.

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The Isles of Scilly has been named the area of England and Wales with the lowest EPC energy rating. Located off the coast of Southwest England has a population of around 2,100 which means it’s more difficult for properties to be updated compared to those on mainland UK. With this in mind, only 8.5% of dwellings in the area have an EPC rating of A-C.

The company states that Gwynedd has the second-lowest EPC rating in the ranking and the lowest overall in Wales with only 24.5% of dwellings having an EPC energy rating of A-C.

According to the UK government an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) tells you how energy efficient a property is and you must have an EPC when you’re, selling a property, renting out a property or building a new property and you must order an EPC for potential buyers and tenants before you market your property to sell or rent.

An EPC contains information about a property’s energy use and typical energy costs and steps to improve a property’s energy efficiency and save money and then gives the property an energy efficiency rating from A (best) to G (worst), valid for 10 years. In Wales, England and Northern Ireland, only accredited domestic energy assessors can produce valid EPCs.

The Energy Saving Trust says getting a certificate can cost between £60 and £120 but assessors may have different fees too, so it’s worth getting a number of quotes from an accredited assessor or organisation to find the best deal.

According to the trust there are nine most common recommendations to improve an EPC rating:

James Longley, managing director at Utility Bidder says: "The biggest problem that a property with a low EPC rating will present is higher energy costs. Poorly insulated homes can lose heat quickly, which means more energy will be needed to make the inside of a property feel warmer.

The Energy Saving Trust says there are nine main ways to improve your home's EPC rating
The Energy Saving Trust says there are nine main ways to improve your home's EPC rating -Credit:WalesOnline/Rob Browne

"As well as higher energy costs, a property with a low EPC rating can also be harder to sell, as potential buyers may look to purchase a more energy-efficient property and mortgage lenders may also see the rating as a potential issue.

"If your property has a low EPC rating then there are steps you can take to improve it and make your home more appealing to potential buyers. Installing solar panels, insulating your home, investing in new windows and doors and upgrading to an energy-efficient heating system will all contribute to creating a more energy-efficient home."

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