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EPC Benchmark

Independent EPC analysis

Band guide

EPC rating C explained: scores 69 to 80

A domestic EPC rating C means the modelled energy efficiency score falls between 69 and 80 on the 1–100 scale. In this analysed release band C covers 35.8% of current properties in England and Wales, close behind band D at 36.0%, so a C is a common outcome rather than an unusual one.

Band C range:C69toC80

National context for band C

Band C share
35.8% of current properties
Band D share
36.0% of current properties
Current properties
19,324,312
Certificate-history rows
27,654,564
Source snapshot ends
31 July 2026
Release generated
23 August 2026

These shares are national aggregates of current properties across England and Wales. They describe the shape of the housing stock in this release. They are not a verdict on any individual home, and a specific property can sit anywhere within its band.

What a C does and does not mean

What it does mean

  • A modelled score between 69 and 80, produced from the elements the assessor recorded and standard assumptions about occupancy and heating patterns.
  • A description of the building as assessed on the certificate date, not as it stands after any later work.
  • A figure calculated on the same basis for every home, which is what makes aggregate comparison possible.

What it does not mean

  • It is not a statement that the home is efficient in every respect: a C can be reached with one strong element compensating for a weak one.
  • It is not a prediction of bills, which depend on household size, temperatures and energy prices.
  • It is not a survey, valuation or safety inspection, and it is not a legal certificate of compliance.

The full score ranges for every letter are set out on our A–G EPC band scale explainer.

Why two band C homes can still differ materially

Band C is twelve points wide, and the score is a single number summarising many recorded elements. Two homes with the same C can therefore have opposite strengths, and the letter alone will not tell you which. Three kinds of context usually explain the difference.

  • Construction and age

    Age band and construction type set the realistic range for a score. A 1990s house reaching C may be performing about as expected, while a solid-wall Victorian terrace reaching C may reflect work already carried out, which the certificate's recorded elements would show.

  • Heating system and controls

    Heat generator, fuel and controls carry weight in the model. A C home with an older recorded system may have stronger recorded fabric, and a C home with a newer system may have weaker fabric; the certificate is what distinguishes them.

  • What was actually recorded

    Only recorded attributes are scored. Insulation or glazing installed after the assessment does not appear until a new certificate is produced, so a published C can understate the current building.

A C is not automatically “good” and is not presented here as a target. It is a position on a modelled scale that only becomes meaningful next to comparable homes.

A published example: House, built 1996–2002

This national type-and-age group is published in this release and shows how band C sits within a comparable set of homes across England and Wales.

Current properties in the group
550,831
Median current score
70 (band C)
Share of the group in band C
60.1%

A hypothetical score of 69 is band C, yet it sits one point below this group's median of 70. The letter alone would not show that, which is why the score and a comparable group matter together.

Percentages are shares of the 550,831 current properties in this national type-and-age group. The group contains properties in every band, and this is not a statement about which property types make up band C nationally. Every figure on this site comes from the published aggregate files in this release: national totals from national.json, district views from the matching postcode-district file, and national type-and-age groups from archetypes.json. Each page draws only on the files relevant to the figures it shows.

Using the certificate and the four comparison lenses

Start with the official certificate for the property, which is published on the GOV.UK Find an energy certificate service. It gives the recorded elements and the property’s own recommendation sequence. EPC Benchmark then adds aggregate context through four lenses, each reported separately:

  1. 1. All homes in the chosen postcode district.
  2. 2. The same property type within that district.
  3. 3. The same construction age band within that district.
  4. 4. The same property type and construction age band nationally.

These are four independent views. They are not a single jointly matched cohort, and they must not be read as one. Our methodology page explains how each lens is built and our data sources page lists the official inputs.

Use our annotated sample EPC to identify the recorded elements before comparing.

Compare a band C score with similar homes

What to check next, in a sensible order

  1. 1

    Read the certificate element by element

    Look at how walls, roof, floor, windows, heating and controls were each rated, rather than at the letter. This shows where the score was earned and where it was lost.

  2. 2

    Check the assessment date and accuracy

    Confirm the recorded elements still describe the home. If work has happened since, the published figure describes an older state of the building.

  3. 3

    Compare against genuinely similar homes

    Use the four independent comparison lenses rather than comparing with new builds, which start from a different construction standard.

  4. 4

    Read the property's own recommendation list

    Official certificates set out recommended measures in an ordered sequence for that specific building. What remains available depends on the elements recorded for that property rather than on its band letter.

  5. 5

    Take professional advice before committing to work

    A retrofit assessor, chartered surveyor or suitably qualified installer can advise on suitability and sequencing for the particular property. Nothing here is a recommendation to carry out any measure.

This is an informational sequence, not a prescription, a guarantee of any outcome or a statement that any measure will raise a score.

Read about EPC accuracy to understand the assessment’s limits, or how to improve an EPC rating when reviewing your certificate’s recommendations.

Limitations and data note

  • An EPC score is modelled under standard assumptions, not metered, so two similar homes can differ because of recorded inputs rather than real performance.
  • “Current” means the latest certificate recorded for each valid UPRN in this analysed release. A property that has been reassessed appears once, using its most recent certificate.
  • This aggregate release does not combine postcode district, property type and construction age in one published cell. The four views below are shown separately and must not be read as a single jointly matched cohort. The national property type and construction age archetype is the closest combined attribute view; the district views add geographic context.
  • Groups smaller than 5 properties are not published, so some views are unavailable for smaller districts.
  • This is not live data and it does not update automatically. The source snapshot ends 31 July 2026 and this release was generated on 23 August 2026.
  • No cost estimates are shown, because this release does not contain validated current costs.
  • No address, full postcode, UPRN or certificate identifier is requested, stored or displayed.

Frequently asked questions

What score is an EPC rating C?

Band C covers energy efficiency scores from 69 to 80 on the 1–100 domestic EPC scale. A home at 69 has only just entered the band, while a home at 80 is one point below band B, so the underlying score carries more information than the letter.

How common is an EPC rating C?

In this analysed release, band C accounts for 35.8% of the 19,324,312 current properties in England and Wales, and band D accounts for 36.0%. The two bands are close in size, so a C is common rather than exceptional.

Why can two band C homes be so different?

Band C spans twelve points, and a score is produced from the whole set of recorded features. One C home may have good insulation and an older heating system, another may have an efficient boiler and uninsulated walls. The letter hides which elements were scored well.

Is band C a legal target for landlords or sellers?

We do not state a legal threshold here. Minimum energy efficiency rules for privately rented homes in England and Wales change over time and include exemptions, so check the current government landlord guidance for the position that applies today.

Can a band C home still be improved?

Often yes. The opportunities that remain are property-specific and depend on the elements recorded for that building, so the recommendations printed on the property's own certificate are the appropriate starting point. We do not attach a point gain to any measure.

Where can I find the certificate for a specific home?

Certificates for England, Wales and Northern Ireland are published on the government's Find an energy certificate service. EPC Benchmark shows aggregate figures only and holds no address-level certificate records.

Sources

Official sources used on this page. Guidance changes, so check the current version for the position that applies today.

Underlying data: EPC Register (MHCLG), ONS National Statistics UPRN Lookup. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.