Victorian homes are full of character – high ceilings, sash windows, ornate features – but they’re rarely energy efficient out of the box. Many sit in EPC bands E or D, and owners are often unsure how to improve them without compromising original details.
The good news: you can significantly improve a Victorian property’s EPC rating with the right mix of fabric upgrades, sensitive insulation and modern heating – while still respecting its period character.
This guide covers:
- Why Victorian homes perform poorly on EPCs
- Fabric-first measures that work with solid walls and sash windows
- Heating and renewable options that make sense for older properties
For a general overview of improvement options, see 27 Ways to Improve Your EPC Rating. Here, we’ll focus on period-home specifics.
Why Victorian houses often have low EPC ratings
Typical Victorian and late-19th-century homes share characteristics that EPC calculations penalise:
- Solid brick walls with no cavity to fill
- Single-glazed sash windows or early double glazing
- Little or no loft or floor insulation
- Older gas boilers or even electric heating in some conversions
- High ceilings and uncontrolled draughts
On your EPC, you’ll often see:
- “Solid brick walls – no insulation (assumed)”
- “Suspended timber floor – no insulation (assumed)”
- “Single glazed windows” or “Older double glazing”
Improving your rating means addressing these issues thoughtfully, balancing conservation with performance.
Step 1: Start with the least intrusive fabric upgrades
Before tackling walls and windows, focus on measures that have minimal visual impact but big thermal benefits.
1. Loft insulation (including eaves and access hatches)
Loft insulation is usually the lowest-risk, highest-return fabric upgrade:
- Aim for 270mm where headroom and ventilation allow.
- Pay attention to eaves areas, pipework and tanks to avoid freezing.
- Insulate and draught proof the loft hatch.
Victorian roofs can be irregular, so use installers experienced with older properties. For more detail, see Does Loft Insulation Improve Your EPC?.
2. Floor insulation for suspended timber floors
Many Victorian homes have suspended timber floors over a ventilated void.
- Insulating from below (e.g. from a cellar) is often the least intrusive option.
- Ensure ventilation is maintained to prevent damp and rot.
- Combine with draught proofing around skirting boards.
Even partial floor insulation in coldest rooms can cut draughts and improve EPC scores.
3. Draught proofing that respects period features
Victorian homes often leak heat through:
- Gaps around original doors and frames
- Traditional sash windows
- Unused chimneys and fireplaces
Look for heritage-sensitive solutions:
- Discreet brush seals for doors and sash windows.
- Chimney balloons or dampers in disused flues (while ensuring appropriate ventilation elsewhere).
- Heavy, well-fitted curtains and secondary glazing where replacement isn’t possible.
Much of this can be done without altering the building fabric permanently.
Step 2: Walls and windows – working with period constraints
Solid walls and original windows are the big challenge in Victorian properties.
4. Internal wall insulation (IWI)
Because Victorian homes usually have solid walls, you can’t simply inject cavity insulation. Instead, consider internal wall insulation:
- Often best applied to external-facing walls in key rooms.
- Use breathable systems designed for solid walls to reduce damp risks.
- Expect some loss of floor space and potential disruption to skirting, sockets and radiators.
Proper design and installation are critical. This is not usually a DIY job, and listed buildings need extra care and consent.
5. Secondary glazing for sash windows
Replacing original sash windows can be expensive and may not be allowed in conservation areas. Secondary glazing can be a good compromise:
- Adds an extra pane on the inside, improving thermal and acoustic performance.
- Often reversible, which can be important for heritage buildings.
- Can significantly reduce draughts and heat loss.
Some homeowners also choose sympathetic double-glazed sash replacements in less sensitive areas, using traditional sightlines and profiles.
6. External wall insulation (EWI) – in selective cases
External wall insulation can dramatically improve thermal performance but:
- Can change the appearance of the façade (rendering over brick).
- May be unacceptable in conservation areas or for listed buildings.
Where aesthetics and planning allow (e.g. less visible side/rear elevations), EWI can be combined with other measures for a major EPC uplift.
Step 3: Heating and hot water upgrades
Once the building fabric is significantly improved, focus on how you heat the home efficiently.
7. Upgrade an old boiler and controls
Many Victorian homes still run on aging non-condensing boilers.
- Replacing these with a modern A-rated condensing boiler can improve EPC ratings and reduce bills.
- Combine boiler replacement with zoned controls and thermostatic radiator valves.
For costs and EPC impact, see Does a New Boiler Improve Your EPC? and New Boiler Cost UK (2025 Guide).
8. Explore low-carbon heating (where suitable)
Heat pumps can work in Victorian homes, but only if:
- The property is well insulated, particularly at the loft and walls.
- Radiators or underfloor heating are sized for low-flow temperatures.
When the fabric is ready, an air source heat pump can significantly improve both EPC and carbon performance. See Air Source Heat Pump Costs UK and Boiler vs Heat Pump: Cost Comparison.
9. Hot water efficiency
Don’t overlook hot water:
- Fit or upgrade cylinder insulation and pipe lagging.
- Consider more efficient cylinders or controls where appropriate.
These measures are relatively inexpensive and support overall efficiency.
Step 4: Renewables and generation
Victorian homes can often accommodate renewables with careful design.
10. Solar PV and roof considerations
Solar panels can:
- Offset electricity use;
- Improve your EPC environmental rating;
- Reduce bills significantly if you’re home during the day.
Roof structure and aesthetics matter – especially in conservation areas – so use installers with heritage experience. We cover EPC impact in Solar Panels and EPC Rating.
11. Smart controls and zoning
For larger Victorian homes:
- Consider zoned heating (e.g. upstairs vs downstairs), smart TRVs, and room-by-room control.
- Use smart thermostats that learn occupancy patterns.
This is particularly helpful where parts of the home are only used occasionally.
Planning and phasing your Victorian retrofit
Improving a Victorian home’s EPC is rarely a one-weekend project. A sensible phasing could look like:
- Immediate comfort and fabric steps: loft insulation, draught proofing, basic floor insulation where accessible.
- Medium-term fabric upgrades: internal wall insulation in select rooms, secondary glazing.
- Heating upgrades: new boiler or heat pump (once fabric is improved), upgraded controls.
- Renewables: solar PV and other technologies where appropriate.
Use our EPC checker and property report to understand your current and potential ratings, and cross-reference suggestions with:
- 27 Ways to Improve Your EPC Rating
- Cheapest Ways to Improve Your EPC Rating
- How to Improve EPC from E to D and How to Improve EPC from D to C for band-specific paths.
Listed buildings and EPC exemptions
If your Victorian home is listed, some EPC recommendations may not be appropriate or permitted.
- Certain changes (e.g. external wall insulation, window replacement) may be restricted.
- In some cases, you may be able to register an EPC exemption where required works would unacceptably alter the character of the building.
For more on exemptions (particularly for landlords), see EPC Exemptions for Landlords Explained.
FAQs
Can I get a good EPC rating in a Victorian house?
Yes – with a well-planned retrofit, many Victorian homes can reach band C or better, especially when loft, floor and wall insulation are combined with efficient heating and controls. However, it may take more investment than for newer, cavity-walled properties.
What are the best first steps for a Victorian EPC upgrade?
In most cases:
- Loft insulation and basic draught proofing.
- Floor insulation where accessible.
- Secondary glazing or other window improvements.
From there, consider internal wall insulation and heating upgrades.
Do all EPC recommendations make sense for period homes?
No. Some generic recommendations (like certain types of external wall insulation or window replacement) may not be suitable for heritage properties. Always consider planning constraints, building physics and aesthetics – and speak to specialists where needed.
What should I do next?
- Use the EPC checker to see your current rating and recommendations.
- Make a fabric-first plan prioritising loft, floors and draughts.
- Combine this guide with 27 Ways to Improve Your EPC Rating to build a realistic 3–5 year upgrade roadmap.
With the right strategy, you can keep the character of your Victorian home and dramatically improve its comfort, running costs and EPC rating.