You’ve upgraded your entire property to energy-efficient LED lighting—so why isn’t it reflected in your Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) rating?
If your EPC still defaults lighting efficiency to a lower value, you’re not alone. Thousands of property owners are losing EPC points because their lighting upgrades aren’t being properly credited.

In this article, we’ll explain:

  • Why EPCs sometimes ignore your LED upgrades

  • How default lighting values affect your EPC rating

  • What you can do to ensure your lighting improvements are recognised

How Lighting Efficiency is Calculated in EPCs

In domestic EPC assessments:

  • Lighting efficiency is measured by the percentage of fixed light fittings that are low-energy compatible (typically LEDs or CFLs).

  • If less than 100% of light fittings are verified as energy-efficient, the assessor may apply default lighting efficiency values.

➡️ Learn how EPCrate ensures accurate lighting assessments.

Why EPC Assessors Sometimes Default Lighting Efficiency—Even With LEDs Installed

1. Missing Fixture Information

If the assessor:

  • Cannot see the bulb or lamp fitting

  • Finds fittings that appear capable of holding halogen or incandescent bulbs
    they are required to default that fitting to non-efficient status, even if the current bulb is an LED.

2. Decorative & Non-Standard Fixtures

Wall sconces, chandeliers, and designer light fittings that can accommodate non-low energy bulbs may be excluded from the efficient count, even if currently fitted with LEDs.

3. Downlights & GU10 Fixtures

Older downlights that are halogen-compatible are often assumed to be non-efficient, unless the fitting is permanently modified to accept LED-only GU10 bulbs.

4. Lack of Full Property Access

If certain rooms or areas (lofts, garages, extensions) are inaccessible during the assessment, lighting efficiency is defaulted to worst-case assumptions for those spaces.

How Much Can Default Lighting Values Lower Your EPC Score?

While lighting is a relatively small component in EPC calculations compared to insulation or heating systems, it can:

  • Drop your rating by a full EPC band if combined with other defaults

  • Be the tiebreaker between a Band D and Band C rating, which affects MEES compliance and mortgage offers

➡️ See how small EPC defaults add up to big rating losses.

How to Ensure Your LED Upgrades Are Recognised in EPCs

1. Ensure All Fixed Light Fittings Are LED-Compatible

Swap out any remaining fixtures that can hold halogen or incandescent bulbs.

2. Provide Documentation or Photographic Evidence

If you’ve upgraded the entire property with:

  • Certified LED downlight conversions

  • LED-only lamp fittings
    make sure to provide invoices, product manuals, or clear photos to the assessor.

3. Allow Full Property Access

Ensure the assessor can check every room, including storage areas, garages, and external fixtures. Any uninspected area is penalised with a default value.

4. Choose an Experienced Assessor Familiar with EPC Lighting Defaults

At EPCrate, we ensure:

  • Detailed room-by-room lighting audits

  • Avoidance of unnecessary defaults

  • Recognition of non-standard LED retrofit solutions

➡️ Book a thorough EPC lighting assessment with EPCrate.

The Future of EPC Lighting Defaults: Will Standards Tighten?

As the market shifts towards 100% LED adoption, EPC methodology is expected to:

  • Eliminate certain lighting defaults for newer builds

  • Require stricter documentation for older property upgrades
    Until then, meticulous documentation and proactive assessments remain the best defence against unfair default penalties.

Conclusion: Don’t Let Lighting Defaults Undermine Your EPC Score

If you’ve invested in LED upgrades, it’s essential that your EPC reflects these improvements accurately.
Defaults in lighting efficiency may seem minor, but they can compound with other assumed values to unfairly drag down your property’s energy rating.

With EPCrate’s detailed verification process, we make sure every upgrade counts towards a better EPC score.

➡️ Schedule a data-accurate EPC assessment today
➡️ Contact us for guidance on fixing lighting efficiency defaults