Electric heating

Bilivino

There has been some good advice on this thread already and I'd like to add my thoughts too.

I would thoroughly recommend working with your EPC assessor about the choice you make before spending any money as the choice of heating system makes a masive difference to your EPC rating..

If you are considering renting the property into the future, which I assume you are as you sound like a good landlord that's in it for the long term, then you might already be aware of the current government consultations for changes both to the format of domestic EPCs and a suggested increase in the MEES requirements for properties in the private rented sector.

The suggestion for MEES is an increase in the minimum required EPC level from E to C 'equivalent', starting 2028 for new tenancies and 2030 for existing tenancies. Also, the suggestions for changes in the EPC format include splitting the current single cost-base metric rating into separate ratings for building fabric, heating system, smart readiness etc.

There's also intention to replace the SAP based methodology completely with a new one called the Home Energy model in 2026 (if any of this stuff actually gets implemented on time!)

With a desire to stay with electric heating and if you want to be careful about your EPC rating specifically under the current methodology, I would say good avenues to investigate with your energy assessor would be:

- High Heat Retention Storage Heater(s) such as Dimplex Quantum - you would likely only need one in the lounge for a decent EPC rating, and the presence of other forms of electric heating like panel heaters are unlikely to bring the rating down due to the way the methodology currently works, but you would need to check with your energy assessor. Might have to think about any better provision for your hot water such as a well insulated twin immersion cylinder if you don't have one already. Another option is a Dimplex Edel but they are big money.

- Air source heat pump - Likely needing some significant upheavel for the installation.

I looked up the u-values in the EPC methodology for thatched roofs the other month and I must say they are really impressive at 0.35 W/m2K iirc.

Also secondry glazing brings the u-value of single glazing from 4.8 down to 2.4 which is almost as good as double glazing with an unknown installation date.

Lastly, the EPC methodology for existing dwellings is being updated on 15th June 2025 to RDSAP 10 and one of the changes is to the u-values that are used for stone walls for properties in the early construction datebands, so with your property having thatch and likely stone walls this might help your rating too.

hope some of that is useful.

All the best.

LongtermLandlord

Thank you Scot_39 and Bilivino, both useful comments ... particularly regarding the EPC ratings which, I must confess, I hadn't thought about! Thank you for your suggestions and the detail included.