New Homes Minimum EPC Rating 2025-06-09
2025-06-09
TAGS
Response quality
Questions & Answers
Q1
Direct Answer
▸
Context
The MP questioned the steps taken to ensure new homes meet the minimum standard of EPC C rating. She also inquired about water efficiency measures.
What steps are you taking to ensure that new homes meet the minimum standard of EPC C rating? As well as energy, water is an important utility. In Ely and East Cambridgeshire, we suffer drought and floods. What is the Minister doing to encourage new builds to have proper rainwater harvesting and dual piping, so that we can use rainwater to flush our toilets and for other non-drinking water uses?
The December 2021 uplift to energy-efficiency standards means that most new build homes already achieve EPC ratings of A or B. As recently announced, the Government intend to introduce future standards in the autumn that will set more ambitious energy-efficiency and carbon emissions requirements for new homes to ensure that they are net zero-ready. We are looking at how we might make household water use more efficient, as well as a range of other interventions in my hon. Friend’s part of the country to ensure that we make the best use of water and that the necessary infrastructure is put in place to accommodate housing growth.
▸
Assessment & feedback
Response accuracy
Q2
Partial Answer
▸
Context
The MP highlighted the issue of poor energy performance in existing homes in Hartlepool, with 24,000 homes having an EPC rating of D or below.
In Hartlepool, 24,000 existing homes have an energy performance certificate rating of D or below. That means too many homes are too cold and have bills that are too high. What can the Minister do to accelerate the improvement of those homes to ensure warm homes for Hartlepool constituents?
My hon. Friend tempts me into the responsibilities of another Department, but I will get the relevant Minister from the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero to write to him to set out what measures are being put in place as part of the warm homes plan.
▸
Assessment & feedback
The Minister referred the question to another department rather than providing direct information or commitment.
Referred To Other Department
Response accuracy
Q3
Partial Answer
▸
Context
The MP referenced the historical data on homes with EPC C ratings and challenged the Minister to set a clear target for new homes by the end of his term.
In 2010, just 12% of homes had an EPC C rating or above, so those homes were too cold and had bills that were too high. It was 60% by 2024 when we left power. Will the Minister share with the House the ambition and give us a number for the percentage of homes that we should expect to have that basic EPC C rating by the end of this term, which I hope will be the only one the Minister has, so he should make a difference while he can?
As I made clear, I recognise the December 2021 uplift in energy efficiency standards means that most new builds that come through achieve an EPC rating of A or B. Off the top of my head, though I stand to be corrected, I think about 84% of new homes meet those standards. But as I said, we have announced that we want to introduce future standards this autumn, which will drive even more ambitious energy efficiency and carbon emission requirements for new homes.
▸
Assessment & feedback
The Minister did not provide a specific target or number for the percentage of homes expected to achieve EPC C ratings by his term end.
Referenced Existing Standards
Mentioned Future Plans
Response accuracy
Q4
Direct Answer
▸
Context
The MP welcomed the government's announcement regarding mandatory solar panels on new homes and asked about ensuring speedy implementation of this requirement.
Having long campaigned on the need for much tougher regulations for solar panels on new homes, I was delighted to hear the Government announce last Friday that we will bring forward requirements to do exactly that. That will not just boost EPC ratings, but save new homeowners thousands of pounds in bills, all while reducing energy usage. How can we ensure that we move at speed so that as many of the new homes we build over the course of this Parliament as possible will benefit from our ambition here?
My hon. Friend has been a champion of ensuring that we get more solar panels on to new build homes and other types of building. As I said in answer to a previous question, we want to move at pace to put future standards in place. We are looking at this autumn, and that will ensure more of the new homes coming forward meet those more ambitious standards. It will mean, as he is aware, that the vast majority of new build homes have solar panels on them as standard.
▸
Assessment & feedback
Response accuracy