What Impact Does Lighting Have on Your EPC Rating?
Low-energy lighting can nudge your EPC rating up. Learn how LED bulbs, fixed lighting, and the proportion of low-energy fittings affect your score.
By First Certify · 2025-08-28 · 5 min read
First Certify is a UK property compliance platform staffed by accredited assessors and qualified engineers. This article has been reviewed for accuracy against current UK regulations, including MEES, the Electrical Safety Standards 2020, and the Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1998.
Lighting is one of the few elements of an EPC assessment that a homeowner or landlord can improve quickly and cheaply. While it is not the biggest factor in your overall rating, the proportion of low-energy light fittings in fixed fixtures can make a measurable difference, particularly for properties on the boundary between two rating bands.
During an EPC assessment, the assessor looks at the fixed lighting in the property. This includes ceiling lights, wall lights, and any permanently wired fittings, but not table lamps or plug-in floor lamps. The assessor counts the number of fixed fittings and the proportion that use low-energy bulbs, such as LED or compact fluorescent lamps.
A property where all fixed fittings use LED bulbs will score better on the lighting component than one with traditional incandescent or halogen bulbs. The difference is usually one or two points on the overall SAP score, which can be enough to move a property from, say, a high D to a low C, or from an E to a D.
If you are preparing for an EPC assessment and your property has halogen or incandescent bulbs in fixed fittings, replacing them with LED equivalents is one of the cheapest improvements you can make. LED bulbs are inexpensive, last much longer, and use a fraction of the energy. The assessor will record the improvement and it will be reflected in your rating.
It is worth noting that the assessor only assesses what is present on the day. If you have removed all the bulbs from fixed fittings, the assessor will assume standard bulbs, which will lower your score. Make sure all fixed fittings have working low-energy bulbs installed before the assessment.
Beyond lighting, the biggest EPC improvements come from insulation, heating systems, and glazing. But if you are close to a band boundary, a few boxes of LED bulbs could be the quickest win available.
FAQs
Do LED bulbs improve my EPC rating?
Yes. The proportion of low-energy light fittings in fixed fixtures is part of the EPC calculation. Replacing halogen or incandescent bulbs with LEDs can improve your score, particularly if you are near a band boundary.
Does the assessor count plug-in lamps?
No. Only fixed lighting (ceiling lights, wall lights, permanently wired fittings) is assessed. Table lamps and plug-in floor lamps are not counted.
Should I install bulbs before the assessment?
Yes. If fixed fittings have no bulbs, the assessor assumes standard bulbs, which lowers your score. Make sure all fixed fittings have working low-energy bulbs installed.