In 2024, an estimated 51,000 UK households have been brought into fuel poverty due to significant rises in housing costs. However, homeowners' ability to access retrofit measures, such as insulation and heat pumps, can vary significantly depending on where they live.
As demand for home energy improvements continues to grow, energy comparison experts at Uswitch have uncovered regional disparities in retrofit preparedness. A retrofit score was calculated for each local authority based on the percentage of properties with low EPC ratings and older homes built between 1900 and 1990. This was then compared against the number of TrustMark installers per 10,000 D-G EPC properties to create an overall retrofit readiness score.
Tower Hamlets is the best-equipped area to meet growing retrofit demands
The top-performing local authorities are heavily concentrated in London, with six of the 10 highest-ranked areas located in the capital.
The South East also performs well, with Eastleigh, Dartford, and Milton Keynes securing places in the top 10. Knowsley and Salford are the only northern local authorities to feature in the ranking.
Tower Hamlets - 9.99 out of 10 retrofit readiness score
Tower Hamlets is the most prepared area for the green home transition, scoring 9.99 out of 10. A high proportion of properties within the London borough are considered energy-efficient. The vast majority (85%) of properties have an EPC rating of A-C, and three-fifths (60%) of those were built post-1991, topping the list for both factors. Tower Hamlets also has 529 TrustMark retrofit installers per 10,000 properties with a D-G EPC rating.
Southwark - 9.63 out of 10 retrofit readiness score
Southwark places second, with a retrofit readiness score of 9.63 out of 10. Three-quarters (77%) of properties in the London district have an EPC rating of A-C, while the remaining (23%) are rated D-G. More than two-fifths (41%) of homes in Southwark were built from 1991 onwards. There are also 297 TrustMark retrofit installers for every 10,000 D-G EPC-rated properties in the district.
City of London - 9.41 out of 10 retrofit readiness score
The City of London follows closely behind, scoring 9.41 out of 10. Seven in 10 (69%) properties within the capital have an A-C EPC rating, while just under a third (31%) have a rating between D-G. Almost half (47%) of homes in the City of London were built post-1991. In addition, the area has 4,961 TrustMark retrofit installers per 10,000 properties with a D-G EPC rating.
The Isles of Scilly are the least retrofit-ready area throughout England and Wales
In contrast, the lowest-ranked local authorities are predominantly found in rural and coastal areas, with no London boroughs featuring in the bottom 10. Several authorities in the North and Midlands, such as Westmorland and Furness and Staffordshire Moorlands, feature in the lower end of the ranking.
These results suggest that retrofit preparedness challenges are often concentrated outside major urban centres, highlighting a geographical divide in the infrastructure and support available to help households improve the energy efficiency of their homes.
Isles of Scilly - 0.29 out of 10 retrofit readiness score
The Isles of Scilly are the least prepared area for growing retrofit demands, scoring just 0.29 out of 10. Only 11% of properties on the islands have an EPC rating of A-C, with almost nine in ten (89%) being rated D-G. The Isles also have an old housing stock, with eight in every 10 (79%) homes built between 1900 and 1990. There are no retrofit installers listed on the Isles of Scilly on TrustMark.
New Forest - 1.00 out of 10 retrofit readiness score
New Forest places second, with a retrofit readiness score of 1.00 out of 10. Despite over half (57%) of properties within the area having an A-C EPC rating, over three-quarters (78%) were built between 1900 and 1990, reflecting an old housing stock. Similar to the Isles of Scilly, there are no TrustMark retrofit installers in New Forest.
Westmorland and Furness - 1.03 out of 10 retrofit readiness score
Westmorland and Furness follows closely behind, scoring 1.03 out of 10. More than half (56%) of properties within the area have a D-G EPC rating, while 44% are rated A-C. More than three-quarters (76%) of homes in Westmorland and Furness were built between 1900 and 1990. Although there are some retrofit installers listed within the area on TrustMark, the number is small, at just 7 per 10,000 D-G EPC properties.
The City of London provides the most sufficient installer support
London also dominates the areas with the highest concentration of TrustMark-accredited installers relative to the percentage of homes likely to require energy-efficiency improvements.
The capital accounts for six of the top 10 local authorities, with the City of London recording by far the highest installer density. Tower Hamlets, Hackney, Southwark, Islington, and Camden also feature prominently in the ranking. Outside the capital, Knowsley, Hyndburn, Castle Point, and Gosport rank among the best-served areas.
Ben Gallizzi, energy expert at Uswitch, discusses the growing gap between retrofit demand and local delivery capacity:
“Improving the energy efficiency of the UK’s homes is a crucial part of reducing energy consumption, lowering household bills, and supporting the transition to net zero.
“In many parts of England and Wales, older housing stock and lower energy performance ratings suggest upgrades will be needed, but installers are essential for making this happen.
“If you live in the wrong postcode, warming up your home might not just be expensive — it may genuinely be hard to find someone qualified to do the work.
“While many cities benefit from a higher concentration of qualified installers and support services, rural areas often face greater challenges in accessing the expertise needed to upgrade homes and improve energy efficiency.
“Ensuring households can access improvements and benefit from warmer homes and lower energy costs is a significant step to reducing emissions in the long-term.”
