Achieving E ratings in historic buildings

The order of priority of measures to achieve E rating at the lowest cost is different from the order of priorities for achieving maximum heat savings at the lowest cost.

If a landlord wants to achieve E ratings but is not concerned about significantly improving the comfort of the tenant, the most cost effective measures are room-in-roof insulation and high heat retention storage heaters. However, if this route is followed, the tenant is likely to find the storage radiators expensive to run because the building is leaking so much heat.

If the aim is to both achieve E ratings and also significantly improve the comfort and fuel costs for the tenant, the best approach is to fit insulation measures first to reduce heat loss from the building by 40-50 per cent, then fit high heat retention storage radiators.

In this case, less heaters will be required to keep the property warm, reducing install costs and making them more affordable to run. The tenant will feel warm, have significantly reduced fuel bills and the property will achieve E rating.

In the two tables opposite, the first shows the order of priority of measures for achieving maximum EPC points, and the second shows the order of priority of measures for achieving maximum heat savings.

Indicative costs for each measure are shown based on case studies from Mitchell & Dickinson’s work insulating the historic village of Clovelly in Devon, which mainly has listed 2 to 4 bedroom properties with stone or cob walls, slate roofs and wooden single glazed casement windows.