{"id":6139,"date":"2025-01-27T14:36:03","date_gmt":"2025-01-27T14:36:03","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/guides-qa.rm.posiweb.net\/?page_id=6139"},"modified":"2025-11-03T14:13:48","modified_gmt":"2025-11-03T14:13:48","slug":"energy-efficiency-5-things-to-consider-when-viewing-a-home","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.rightmove.co.uk\/guides\/energy-efficiency\/energy-at-home\/energy-efficiency-5-things-to-consider-when-viewing-a-home\/","title":{"rendered":"Energy efficiency: 5 things to consider when viewing a home"},"content":{"rendered":"\n\n\n

When searching for your next home, it\u2019s easy to get caught up in the excitement\u2014envisioning how your furniture will fit in the living room, or picturing yourself hosting cosy dinner parties. But there\u2019s one practical question it\u2019s easy to overlook: What could my energy bills look like<\/a>?<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

With energy costs remaining high, considering this at the point you view a home could end up saving you money further down the line. After all, no one wants to get the keys to their dream home, only to face sky-high energy bills they hadn\u2019t planned for.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

So we enlisted the help of Energy Saving Trust\u2019s energy expert, Brian Horne, who shares his top tips for spotting energy efficiency pitfalls (and opportunities) when viewing a property.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1. Check the Energy Performance Certificate (EPC)<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

By law, sellers need to provide a valid Energy Performance Certificate<\/a> (EPC) for any home they\u2019re selling. EPCs<\/a> are valid for 10 years, and it can be useful to think of it as a home\u2019s report card: it gives you key insights into running costs and potential upgrades, as well as the home\u2019s current rating.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Brian explains: \u201cYou can use an EPC to compare the energy efficiency of different homes you might be considering moving to, as well as their projected running costs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

To compare a prospective home with your current home, it\u2019s best to look at the running costs on your existing EPC, rather than looking at your actual energy bills. This is so you\u2019re comparing numbers that have been calculated in the same way, so you can make a like-for-like comparison.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

2. Think about the type of home you want<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The kind of home you choose has a big impact on energy costs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A majestic Victorian villa might win you over with its character, but older homes often require significant upgrades to become energy efficient, which can mean extra cost and effort. On the other hand, a modern new-build is more likely to come with energy-saving features already installed. The average energy efficiency rating of homes built between 1900 and 1990 is D, but this rises to B for homes built after 2016.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Brian says: \u201cThink about what kind of house suits your needs, as well as what kind of improvements you\u2019d need to make to make it more energy efficient. If  a home you\u2019re considering has a low energy efficiency rating, it\u2019s important to consider if you\u2019d be willing to make upgrades in future.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Also, don\u2019t forget that size matters. Larger homes typically cost more to heat, so keep that in mind when weighing up your options.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

3. Look for damp and draughts<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

During your viewing, be sure to look closely at the walls, windows, and ceilings for signs of:<\/p>\n\n\n\n