Viewing a house? Here’s what our energy saving experts say you should look out for

Before you start viewing houses, think about the kind of house you’re likely to need. Your choice of home could have a big impact on your future energy bills. 

For example, an older house might be charming but will probably need more work to make it energy efficient, such as home insulation. And with more work comes more cost. Meanwhile, a new build is more likely to have energy efficient home improvements installed as standard. 

Also, bigger houses are likely to cost more to run since there’s much more space that needs heating. 

Ideally, you’ll find a home that’s already energy efficient. But if not, think about if you’d be willing to make upgrades in the future, and factor that into the overall cost of the house. 

Look at the energy performance certificate (EPC) of the house before you go to view it. The EPC rating gives you information about the property’s running costs. It also gives recommendations of what energy efficient home improvements the house needs. Use this to compare the energy efficiency of different homes, as well as how much they might cost to run. 

The recommendations laid out in the report can also help you look out for potential issues, such as a lack of insulation. 

When comparing the new house with your current home, look at the running costs on your existing EPC, rather than your current energy bills. This is so you’re comparing numbers that have been calculated in the same way, making it a fairer comparison. 

When you’re viewing the house, pay close attention for signs of: 

• damp and mould 
• condensation 
• draughts 
• poor ventilation 

These might be a symptom of bigger, more expensive problems later. They’re also likely to lead to higher energy costs and will make the house less comfortable to live in. 

In many cases, problems with damp and mould need to be fixed before you can install other energy saving measures like insulation. 

It’s also worth asking for relevant documents for any home upgrades that the house already has. This includes: 

• installation certificates 
• warranties 
• service records 

It’s worth asking the seller these questions: 

• How old is the current heating system? 
• How effective is it at keeping the house at a comfortable temperature? 
• How much are your current energy bills? 

If the house has a boiler that’s reaching the end of its life, for example, you’ll need to factor in the cost of a replacement. 

Also, more and more homes are using renewable or low carbon technology such as:

• solar panels
• home battery storage
• heat pumps

It’s important to understand how these might affect your day-to-day running of the house and your potential energy costs. This is especially important if you’re not familiar with these newer technologies. 

For more information, read our guide to viewing a house that has a heat pump installed. 

It’s a good idea to think longer term and what you might do to upgrade the property’s energy efficiency. This way, you can factor any extra costs into your overall budget. The EPC report is a great place to start as it will already have a list of recommended upgrades. 

There are several schemes that can help fund the cost of making these improvements. For more information, read our guide to what energy grants are available.

You can start saving energy from the day you move in. Here are our top tips: 

• Find out who your supplier is, find your meter and get a reading. Also look into whether you should switch energy suppliers.   
• Bleed any radiators to make sure they’re working effectively. 
• Learn how to control the heating in the house. 
• If you’re furnishing your new home yourself, make sure you choose energy efficient appliances.  

For more information and tips, read our moving home energy checklist.

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