Which? Are EPC ratings accurate? Uncovering the flaws in energy assessments
Mar 23, 2026
Karen Lawrence, a sustainability specialist advising on home energy efficiency and retrofit options. She discusses problems with inaccurate EPCs and assessor standards. She talks about why in-person surveys and proper retrofit assessments matter. She covers financial and practical risks of bad reports and when to use online tools versus whole-house plans.
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EPCs Are Broad Ratings Not Personal Plans
- Energy Performance Certificates (EPCs) give an A–G rating and a numeric score but are broad, not personalised guides to your home's performance.
- Karen Lawrence warns recommendations use generic cost ranges and 'typical occupancy' assumptions, so they may mislead homeowners.
Unexpected Assessor Turned Up Without Accreditation
- Karen booked a specific accredited assessor but a different person turned up and couldn't show proper accreditation.
- She refused entry would be reasonable advice because the substitute assessor later was struck off for breaching rules.
Verify An Assessor's Accreditation Before Entry
- Check an assessor's accreditation before letting them in and verify their scheme membership on TrustMark or the accreditation body.
- Ask to see ID and the assessor's accreditation on arrival and decline entry if they can't show it.