Research · UK Affordability Index
UK Heat Pump & Solar Affordability Index 2026
TL;DR
- 5 year snapshots: 2012–2026.
- Band C or better share moved from 39% to 65%.
- 85% of UK homes on mains gas (latest snapshot).
- Median UK heating cost: £760/yr.
- Regional breakdown + raw numbers below.
Headline trend — UK homes at EPC band C or better
Band C or better is the threshold that broadly maps to “heat-pump ready without significant fabric work”. The line below tracks the share of EPC lodgements rated C or better in each snapshot year.
Per-year national snapshot
EPC lodgements per snapshot year, with the headline metrics. Each row is the cohort of certificates lodged in that calendar year — not a cumulative current-state picture.
| Year | Lodgements | Band C+ | Band D+ | Median heating cost | Median floor area | Mains gas |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2012 | 1,467,002 | 38.9% | 61.1% | £529 | 78 m² | 83% |
| 2016 | 1,490,821 | 35.9% | 64.1% | £648 | 82 m² | 85% |
| 2020 | 1,498,887 | 47.9% | 52.1% | £518 | 76 m² | 79% |
| 2024 | 1,646,503 | 60.5% | 39.5% | £810 | 77 m² | 82% |
| 2026 | 1,185,074 | 65.1% | 34.9% | £760 | 76 m² | 85% |
Regional breakdown — 2026
The same metrics by Government Statistical Service region code, latest snapshot year only. Ranked by share of band C+ lodgements descending.
| Region | Lodgements | Band C+ | Median heating cost | Mains gas | Dominant property type |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unknown | 41,482 | 99.2% | £255 | 42% | House |
| E12000001 | 62,586 | 71.6% | £830 | 93% | House |
| E12000007 | 176,000 | 69.4% | £587 | 86% | Flat |
| E12000002 | 141,704 | 66.7% | £799 | 89% | House |
| E12000008 | 172,539 | 64.2% | £754 | 83% | House |
| E12000006 | 114,186 | 63.4% | £778 | 79% | House |
| W99999999 | 58,141 | 61.4% | £847 | 81% | House |
| E12000004 | 87,152 | 61.2% | £834 | 86% | House |
| E12000009 | 103,450 | 59.6% | £795 | 73% | House |
| E12000003 | 118,371 | 59.5% | £835 | 90% | House |
| E12000005 | 109,463 | 59.4% | £831 | 86% | House |
Methodology
The dataset is built from the full GOV.UK EPC Register bulk download — every domestic Energy Performance Certificate lodged in England and Wales. The snapshot years (default 2012, 2016, 2020, 2024, 2026) are processed independently: each row represents the cohort of certs lodged in that calendar year, not the cumulative state of UK housing.
Two consequences worth flagging:
- Sampling bias. EPCs are required at sale and new build, so the year cohort over-represents moving-house events. The dataset is the population of lodgements, not the population of UK homes.
- Definition drift. EPC methodology has changed across the period (RdSAP updates, age band re-labelling, glazing assessment refinements). Year-on- year comparisons are directionally robust; pixel-perfect comparisons are not.
Pipeline scripts: scripts/epc-bulk/.
Use this data
Cite this page when referencing the figures. The underlying EPC data is published under the Open Government Licence v3.0 (© Crown copyright). Press / research enquiries: contact page.
Sources
- GOV.UK — Find an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC Register) — accessed May 2026
- GOV.UK — EPC bulk download (technical documentation) — accessed May 2026
- MCS Certified — Installer + install directory — accessed May 2026
- Ofgem — Domestic energy price cap — accessed May 2026
EPC aggregate data contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0 (© Crown copyright and database right).