How Rising Energy Bills Are Changing What Buyers Look for in a Home

The asking price is only one part of what a home will cost to live in. Heating, electricity and future improvement work can change the monthly budget considerably, particularly when two otherwise similar properties perform differently once winter arrives. From July to September 2026, Ofgem's energy price cap increased by 13% compared with the previous cap period, although actual household bills depend on energy use, tariff and payment method.

That makes energy performance worth checking during the buying process rather than after completion. An EPC, the age of the heating system, insulation and any renewable energy systems already installed can all reveal something about likely running costs and work the next owner may want to budget for.

An Energy Performance Certificate gives buyers a standardised way to look at energy efficiency, but the letter on the certificate is only the starting point. The report also shows the property's current score, estimated energy use and measures that could improve its performance.

Recent household energy efficiency statistics show how much the English housing stock has changed. In England, 56% of homes were rated in energy efficiency bands A to C in 2024, compared with 26% in 2014. At the other end of the scale, the proportion in bands E to G fell from 23% to 9% over the same period. The figures also show why buyers should look beyond the headline EPC band. In 2024, 89% of English homes had full double glazing, but only 42% of dwellings had 200mm or more of loft insulation. Two homes with similar ratings can therefore have quite different strengths and remaining upgrade work.

Solar panels can make a property more interesting to a buyer who wants to reduce the amount of electricity purchased from the grid, but their presence alone does not tell you whether the financial case is strong.

A buyer viewing a home with an existing system should ask who owns the panels, when they were installed, whether there is battery storage and what paperwork is available for the installation. Recent electricity bills, generation records and export payments can provide more useful evidence than a line in the property description.

For a buyer considering whether to install solar after the purchase, Stratford Energy Solutions guide to what Martin Lewis says about solar panels offers a useful way to assess the financial case. Household usage, roof suitability, export payments and payback all need to be considered rather than assuming panels automatically make a property cheaper to run.

Export arrangements matter as well. The Smart Export Guarantee allows eligible small-scale generators to receive payment for electricity sent back to the grid, but tariffs vary between suppliers. A buyer purchasing a home with solar panels should therefore understand both how much electricity the household is likely to use directly and what happens to the surplus.

Renewable technology tends to attract attention during a viewing, but some of the less visible parts of a house have a more immediate effect on how comfortable it feels and how much energy it needs.

Loft and wall insulation deserve attention, particularly in older properties. Buyers can check the EPC recommendations, ask what work has already been completed and look for documentation where major upgrades have been carried out. Draughts, cold rooms or uneven temperatures during a viewing can also justify further questions about the building fabric.

Heating deserves the same practical check. Rather than focusing only on whether a boiler looks modern, find out its age, service history and how the property is controlled. Heating zones, thermostats and timers affect how easily occupants can manage consumption, while an older system may become another cost to factor into the first few years of ownership.

A seller's recent bills can be useful, but they should not be treated as a forecast for the next household. Energy use changes with the number of occupants, working patterns, preferred room temperature and tariff.

Instead, buyers should look at several pieces of information. Check the EPC and its recommendations, ask about insulation and heating work, find out how old major systems are and request paperwork for solar panels, batteries or other renewable technology. If the property has smart controls, ask what they operate and whether accounts or apps need to be transferred.

Buyers should also distinguish between an improvement that has already been paid for and one they would need to fund after moving. A low-rated property at an attractive purchase price may still be a sensible choice if the required work has been understood and budgeted for. Equally, a higher EPC rating does not remove the need for a home survey or checks on the physical condition of the house.

Roof condition, damp, electrics, plumbing and maintenance history still matter, especially where solar equipment or other technology has been added to the building.

Energy performance is easier to assess when buyers stop looking for one feature that supposedly makes a house efficient. EPC data, insulation, heating, glazing and renewable systems each tell part of the story.

This matters most when buyers are choosing between similar properties, because small differences in insulation, heating controls or solar performance can shape both monthly costs and future improvement plans.

Current energy costs make those details more relevant to the household budget, but the decision still needs to be based on the individual property. A home with solar panels may suit one household well while another buyer gets more value from stronger insulation, a newer heating system or simply fewer immediate upgrades to fund.

Before making an offer, buyers should look at what the property already does well, what still needs work and how those costs fit alongside the mortgage and the rest of the buying budget.

To find out more about how we could help you with project management, renovation project or property staging for your property complete the online enquiry form or check out our other home staging services.

Why not check out House Wow's other home staging services?