Energy Performance Certificates in Erith

Common property types

• 1930s terraced houses: Found along Bexley Road, Brook Street, and the streets between Erith town centre and Northumberland Heath. These two and three-bedroom terraces have cavity brick walls, bay windows at the front, and small rear gardens. Many were privately built and have been in the rental sector for years. Wall cavities are frequently unfilled, and original Crittall-style windows survive in a few properties, though most have been replaced with uPVC double glazing over time.
• Post-war council estates: Erith saw significant council house building in the 1950s and 1960s, concentrated around the Slade Green estate, Erith Marshes area, and parts of Northumberland Heath. These include semi-detached houses, short terraces, and low-rise maisonettes. Many have been sold under Right to Buy and are now in the private rental market. Construction is typically cavity brick or in some cases concrete panel, and the council often fitted cavity wall insulation and double glazing before transfer.
• 1960s tower blocks and deck-access flats: Several medium-rise blocks stand near Erith town centre and along the riverside, including properties around James Watt Way. These concrete-framed buildings have flat roofs, communal heating in some blocks, and electric storage heaters in others. Insulation upgrades have been carried out to some blocks, but many individual flats still score poorly due to the limitations of concrete panel construction.
• Newer riverside apartments: The regeneration of Erith's waterfront has brought modern apartment blocks along Manor Road and near the pier. These properties are built to current building regulations and typically achieve B or C ratings. They rarely need EPC improvement work, but certificates are still required every time a unit is sold or let.
• Victorian terraces near the town centre: A small stock of older Victorian terraces survives around Pier Road and West Street. These solid-brick houses predate the main period of Erith's growth and have the typical challenges of solid wall construction, including poor thermal performance and limited scope for insulation without affecting the external appearance.

Typical EPC issues we find in Erith

• Electric storage heaters in ex-council flats: Many of the 1960s flats around Erith still use Economy 7 storage heaters, which score poorly under RDSAP. Switching to modern panel heaters with programmable controls or, where gas is available, installing central heating can improve a rating significantly.
• Unfilled cavity walls in 1930s terraces: The terraces along Bexley Road and Brook Street were built with cavity walls, but many have never been filled. Cavity wall insulation is one of the most cost-effective EPC improvements and can shift a rating by one or two bands.
• Flat roofs on post-war extensions: Rear extensions on ex-council properties frequently have uninsulated flat roofs. Adding rigid insulation board above or below the roof deck is a straightforward improvement that helps the overall rating.
• Outdated boilers in rental stock: Erith has a high proportion of privately rented ex-council homes. Many still have boilers over 15 years old, and some retain original back boiler units. A modern condensing combi boiler is one of the single biggest improvements an Erith landlord can make.
• Concrete panel walls with no insulation option: Some post-war properties on the Slade Green estate and near the marshes have non-traditional concrete panel walls. These cannot be cavity-filled and may need external wall insulation, which is expensive but can dramatically improve the rating.