EPC rating E? How much are your bills in winter?

[ally56]

Hi everyone,

Myself, partner and 16 month old are moving in the next couple of months to Derbyshire. We have always lived in the south of England so it’s a big change for us! We are currently looking at houses to rent and have found a house that is perfect for us, however it has an EPC rating of E and is a stone built cottage, but has been modernised.
I was just wondering what we could expect to pay on bills in the winter months considering the EPC rating is below average? Does anyone live in a house with a similar EPC? What does it cost in heating and electricity etc?
We love the house but want to get an idea of costs!
TIA! X

No one can really tell you as it depends on the size of the house, method of heating (oil vs. gas vs. Electric). E is fairly awful and if it’s a similar size house to what you’re in now you’ll likely pay triple as a rough guide.

Congrats on the move! Derbyshire is beautiful, but definitely colder than the South.
We looked at a stone cottage recently too. The issue with 'EPC E' in stone houses is usually that the walls are solid (so no cavity insulation) and they lose heat incredibly fast. 'Modernised' often just means a new kitchen/bathroom, not actual insulation.
With a 16-month-old, you'll need the heating on a lot. I would budget at least £250-£300/month in Jan/Feb for gas/electric.
One tip before you sign: Put the postcode into homecheckup.co.uk. It lets you see the detailed breakdown of why it got an E rating. specifically look at the 'Main Heating' section. If it says 'Boiler Efficiency: Poor' or 'Electric Storage Heaters', your bills will be massive. If it just says 'Walls: Poor', it's manageable with good curtains.
Good luck with the move!
Nick

Whatever you pay, expect it to be chilly anyway...is there any insulation, or just stone walls? You LL be wearing fleeces and jumpers all winter, refuging in 1 warm room.
Oil can be very expensive, electricity more so.
But don't be put off. That's just country living.