Get a Valuation
    Register/Login/Report a Maintenance Issue
    LogoLogo

    Our Branches

    Barming – 01622 720000
    Bearsted – 01622 730020
    Headcorn – 01622 890089
    Larkfield – 01732 875706

    Maidstone – 01622 691255
    Snodland – 01634 240966
    West Malling – 01732 844111
    Period Homes Malling – 01732 844111

    Period Homes Weald – 01622 850888
    Lettings & Management – 01732 875777
    New Homes – 01732 221411

    Book a Valuation

    If you would like a no obligation, professional valuation on your property, please complete our valuation form and one of our appraisal team will be in touch to book an appointment.

    Book my Valuation

    Home/News/How to tell if your next home will be warm

    How to tell if your next home will be warm

    over 3 years ago
    Lifestyle
    How to tell if your next home will be warm

    The topic of staying warm at home has never been more pertinent. In the face of a cold winter and rising fuel prices, Ovo Energy – Britain’s third-biggest energy supplier – sent an email to its customers in January, containing ideas on how to stay warm.

    Ovo’s advice was ridiculed in the press. The firm’s ‘simple and cost effective’ tips included cuddling your pets and loved ones to stay cosy, eating ‘hearty’ bowls of porridge and consuming ginger (but not chilli as that makes you sweat) and doing a few star jumps.

    While the pointers were well-meaning, they aren’t very practical on a long-term basis. A better solution is to ensure your next property is as energy efficient as possible, allowing you to enjoy a warm home without resorting to a daily diet of Quaker oats.

    EPC ratings are your best friend

    If you are moving home soon and want to know if the property will retain heat, there are a few things you can look out for. The first is the EPC rating – which shows how energy efficient the property is. All dwellings, whether to rent or for sale, will be listed with an EPC rating – look out for the coloured bar graph on our property details.

    Properties are given a letter to show how energy efficient they are – an A rating is the best and G is the lowest. Although properties for sale can have any EPC rating to be sold, landlords can only rent out properties that have an EPC rating of E or above. 

    If a property’s current EPC is more than 10 years old – or if the home doesn’t have an EPC at all – an energy assessor will visit and look at certain aspects to decide how good its energy performance is. The heating system makes up the largest part of the EPC calculation, so a high rating is a good indicator that the property will be warm. Also taken into consideration by the assessor are windows, loft insulation and the external structure – all of which have an impact on how well heat is retained and cold air kept out.

    Ask to see energy bills

    While an EPC certificate will provide a guide to a home’s ability to generate heat and stay warm, seeing energy bills or smart meter readings from winter months will give you an idea of how heavily the current occupants rely on gas and electricity.

    Energy bills are good for guidance but ensure you know if the property is heated using a gas-fired boiler or by electric storage heaters when interpreting the figures. In addition, bear in mind other energy usages outside of heating a home – lighting, powering electrical goods and cooking on a gas stove, for instance.

    Be vigilant on viewings

    If you are looking around a property between the months of November and March, there’s a good chance the heating system will be fired up when you arrive. Check the warmth coming from radiators and ask to see the boiler, noting the make and model. Don’t forget to ask about alternative sources of warmth, such as underfloor heating, electric towel rails, wood burning stoves, open fires and gas fireplaces. 

    If you would like more information on EPC ratings and what to look out for when moving home, please contact us today.

    Share this article

    More Articles

    Home improvements that don’t require planning permission

    Home improvements that don’t require planning permission

    Published 2 days ago

    Earlier this year, it became apparent that home buyers aren’t that fussed about finding the ‘perfect’ property. A Rightmove survey of 34,000 home movers found 73% of those leaving rented accommodation viewed fixer uppers as a more affordable route to property ownership. Additionally, 73% of existing homeowners wanted to buy a property that needed work in order to create their dream home.

    Read More
    Pattern drenching: when more is more

    Pattern drenching: when more is more

    Published 23 days ago

    Avid readers may remember our blog on colour drenching – the interior design trend that sees every surface in one room – walls, ceiling, woodwork and radiators – painted in the same colour.

    Read More
    Every seller should try biophilic decluttering

    Every seller should try biophilic decluttering

    Published about 2 months ago

    Described by House Beautiful as ‘the secret to a calm and clutter-free home’, biophilic decluttering is a trend we can really get behind. It merges two interior aspects that are hugely important when selling a home – presenting a property that’s clear and streamlined, and dressing a home so it is visually appealing.

    Read More

    Sign up for our newsletter

    Subscribe to receive the latest property market information to your inbox, full of market knowledge and tips for your home.

    You may unsubscribe at any time. See our Privacy Policy.

    Back to Home

    Our branches 

    Barming
    Bearsted
    Headcorn
    Larkfield

      

    Maidstone
    Snodland
    West Malling
    Lettings & Management

    Period Homes Malling
    Period Homes Weald
    New Homes

    OnTheMarket
    RightMove
    SafeAgent
    ThePropertyOmbudsman
    Logo
    Logo
    Logo
    Logo
    © 2025 Simon Miller. Registered Address: 11 Colman Parade, Colman House, King Street, Maidstone, Kent, ME14 1DJ
    Privacy Policy|Terms & Conditions|Cookie Policy|Complaints Procedure|Landlord Fees|CMP Certificate
    Powered by