Experts have suggested in which UK city it is the most expensive to heat a home. New analysis of energy performance certificate data, alongside gas and electricity consumption and regional tariff data by specialists at Hillarys, revealed a “stark postcode heating divide”, with some households paying nearly £671 more per year to stay warm than others.
The figure was arrived at by comparing the average annual cost of the most expensive city to heat your home, York (£1,181), with the cheapest average annual cost, Salford (£564). The research concluded that historic and coastal locations tend to pay a higher premium to stay warm, including York (£1,181), Dundee (£1,134) and Bath (£1,064), where older stone properties and exposed weather conditions contribute to rising energy bills.
In York, 60.77% of properties have an EPC rating of D or lower, indicating that key energy efficiency improvements should be made, such as double-glazing, experts noted. With the exception of Dundee, more than half of the properties in the top ten costliest areas to heat have an EPC rating of D or lower.
Lower EPC ratings expose residents to soaring energy costs, with an E-rated property (£1,942) costing 313% more per year to heat on average than an A-rated property (£470).
Most expensive places to heat a home
|
Rank |
Region |
Average heating cost per year (£) |
Median heating cost per year (£) |
Proportion of homes EPC rating D or lower / 100 |
|
1. |
York |
1,181 |
960 |
60.77 |
|
2. |
Dundee |
1,134 |
901 |
39.05 |
|
3. |
Stoke-on-Trent |
1,096 |
961 |
52.03 |
|
4. |
Grimsby |
1,083 |
930 |
54.75 |
|
5. |
Aberdeen |
1,082 |
808 |
43.73 |
|
6. |
Lincoln |
1,075 |
886 |
54.75 |
|
7. |
Cheltenham |
1,073 |
811 |
51.56 |
|
8. |
Bath |
1,064 |
801 |
54.03 |
|
9. |
Norwich |
1,064 |
864 |
55.01 |
|
10. |
Salisbury |
1,055 |
795 |
59.26 |
Least expensive towns to heat a home
|
Rank |
Region |
Average heating cost per year (£) |
Median heating cost per year (£) |
Proportion of homes EPC rating D or lower / 100 |
|
1. |
Salford |
564 |
413 |
55.55 |
|
2. |
Harlow |
742 |
656 |
49.03 |
|
3. |
London |
752 |
566 |
52.57 |
|
4. |
Croydon |
754 |
609 |
52.57 |
|
5. |
Stevenage |
781 |
700 |
45.29 |
|
6. |
Milton Keynes |
788 |
654 |
55.24 |
|
7. |
Southampton |
820 |
689 |
44.47 |
|
8. |
Harrow |
828 |
665 |
52.57 |
|
9. |
Portsmouth |
846 |
801 |
44.47 |
|
10. |
Gloucester |
871 |
967 |
51.56 |
Lisa Cooper, head of product at Hillarys, shared what households can do to reduce bills and keep warm this winter.
She said: “Energy bills have become a real concern for the majority of people living in the UK, with 71% of Brits concerned about energy prices and 77% now more conscious of saving energy due to higher bills.
“When the temperatures drop, our first instinct is usually to turn on the heating and make sure every radiator is on full, but retaining heat by preventing air leakage at windows is key to keeping bills low whilst staying warm.
“Small, cost-effective changes, such as sealing draughts, using thick curtains and ensuring windows are properly insulated, can all help.
“Another great solution to maintaining heat inside is installing thermal blinds, such as Duette blinds, which have a unique honeycomb structure.
“This clever design traps air within its cells, providing an extra layer of insulation at your windows, reducing heat loss by up to 55%.”
