North West EPC Ratings in 2026: How the Region Really Compares

Quick answer: 52.7% of North West homes have an EPC of band C or above — a whisker below the England average of 53.3%, according to ONS analysis of Energy Performance Certificate data. But the region hides huge extremes: Knowsley (74.4%) and Salford (71.2%) rank second and third in all of England and Wales, while Pendle manages just 33.8%.

Energy Performance Certificates are about to matter more than ever — landlord minimum-standard deadlines, grant eligibility and even mortgage products increasingly hinge on them. Using the ONS EPC dataset (built from the official EPC register, covering certificates lodged in the ten years to March 2025) and the latest quarterly EPC release for January–March 2026, here is how the North West really compares. If you need a refresher on what the bands mean, start with our guide to EPC ratings and how to improve them.

The North West vs the rest of England and Wales

On the headline measure — the share of dwellings rated band C or above — the North West sits mid-table, fractionally below the England average:

The ONS commentary notes regional differences are modest at this level — England’s median score is 69 (band C), with regions ranging from 68 to 70. The interesting story is inside the region.

A region of extremes: Knowsley and Salford vs Pennine Lancashire

The North West contains two of the three best-performing local authorities in England and Wales. In Knowsley, 74.4% of dwellings are band C or above — second nationally, behind only Tower Hamlets (82.2%) — with Salford close behind on 71.2%. Both reflect large volumes of newer housing and flats, plus extensive social-housing retrofit. Manchester (64.0%) and Liverpool (60.2%) also beat the England average comfortably.

At the other end sit the mill-town districts of Pennine Lancashire and the Fylde coast: Pendle (33.8%), Hyndburn (34.5%), Blackpool (36.2%), Lancaster (39.6%) and Burnley (39.8%) have some of the lowest band C+ rates in England. These areas are dominated by pre-1919 terraced stock with solid walls — exactly the homes that score worst under the current methodology.

Why housing age explains most of the gap

The ONS data lets us split the region’s stock by construction age, and the pattern is stark. Among North West homes built before 1929, just 23.9% reach band C or above. For 1930–1982 homes it is 43.9%; for 1983–2011 homes, 74.4%; and for homes built since 2012, 98.0%. Notably, the North West slightly outperforms the England average within every single age band — the region’s below-average headline score is almost entirely a function of how much older housing it has, not how well that housing has been upgraded.

Fresh certificates tell a similar story. Across England and Wales, 460,000 EPCs were lodged in January–March 2026 (down 2% year on year). Of those, 87% of new dwellings in England were rated A or B, while 88% of existing dwellings assessed were rated C or D. The North West saw the largest fall in new-dwelling EPC lodgements that quarter (down 9% year on year), reflecting a slower quarter for housebuilding completions in the region.

The new-versus-existing gap in the North West mirrors the national one: 96.8% of the region’s new dwellings reach band C or above, against just 44.6% of its existing stock. ONS analysis puts the median EPC score for new dwellings at 84 (band B) — and estimates new homes in England emit an average of 1.2 tonnes of CO2 a year versus 3.2 tonnes for existing homes.

What this means for North West households

• If you own a pre-1929 terrace, the data says you are in the group with the most to gain — insulation is usually the highest-impact, lowest-cost starting point, and our modelling suggests it could save up to £381 a year (estimate).
• Grant support is targeted at exactly this stock: the Warm Homes: Local Grant offers free upgrades for EPC D–G homes where household income is under £36,000, worth up to £30,000 per home.
• The North West is also under-using heat pump grants: DESNZ Boiler Upgrade Scheme data shows about 30 applications per 10,000 households in the region, versus an England and Wales average of 44.5.
• The EPC itself is being reformed in 2026 — see our explainer on the new four-metric EPC system.

To see which improvements would move your home up the bands and what they might cost, try our home energy calculator.

FAQs

Is the North West worse than average for energy efficiency?

Only marginally, and only because of housing age. 52.7% of North West dwellings are EPC band C or above versus 53.3% for England — yet within every construction-age band, North West homes slightly outperform the national average.

Which North West areas have the best and worst EPC ratings?

Knowsley (74.4% band C or above) and Salford (71.2%) rank second and third in England and Wales. Pendle (33.8%), Hyndburn (34.5%) and Blackpool (36.2%) have among the lowest rates, driven by large stocks of solid-wall pre-1919 terraces.

Where does this EPC data come from?

From the official Energy Performance Certificate register for England and Wales, as analysed by the ONS (certificates lodged April 2015 to March 2025, published October 2025) and the MHCLG quarterly EPC statistical release for January–March 2026. EPCs are lodged when homes are built, sold or let, so the data reflects assessed dwellings rather than every home.