Not all Bristol neighbourhoods are created equal when it comes to energy efficiency. We’ve analysed 192,961 EPC certificates across 16 areas to reveal which parts of the city have the least energy-efficient housing — and what that means for bills, property values, and landlord compliance.
These areas score at or below Bristol’s citywide average of 66 (Band D). The chart shows all 16 areas ranked from worst to best, with the Bristol average marked for reference.
68.7%
D or below
4.7%
F–G rated
Semi-detached
Most common type
1930–1949
Dominant era
Large 1930s semi-detached homes with solid walls and high heat-loss surface area. Low rental density (23.5%) means fewer incentives for improvement.
View Henleaze EPC data →68.7%
D or below
4.7%
F–G rated
Semi-detached
Most common type
1930–1949
Dominant era
Same BS9 pattern: inter-war semis and detached houses with cavity walls that often lack fill. Large floor areas amplify heating demand.
View Westbury-on-Trym EPC data →69.7%
D or below
3.8%
F–G rated
Flat
Most common type
Pre-1900
Dominant era
Victorian housing stock dominates (pre-1900). Solid-wall terraces and converted flats inherit the original building’s poor insulation. Worst %A–C of any area (30.3%).
View Redland EPC data →69.7%
D or below
3.8%
F–G rated
Flat
Most common type
Pre-1900
Dominant era
Shares BS6 with Redland. Victorian conversions — large period houses divided into flats — combine high ceilings, single glazing, and limited loft insulation.
View Cotham EPC data →62.1%
D or below
3.1%
F–G rated
Flat
Most common type
Pre-1900
Dominant era
Georgian and Victorian properties in a conservation area. Restrictions on external wall insulation and window replacement limit improvement options.
View Clifton EPC data →57.5%
D or below
2.3%
F–G rated
Terraced
Most common type
1930–1949
Dominant era
Mix of 1930s–1940s terraces and semis. Many have original single glazing and uninsulated cavity walls that could be improved relatively easily.
View Knowle EPC data →57.5%
D or below
2.3%
F–G rated
Terraced
Most common type
1930–1949
Dominant era
Shares BS4 data with Knowle. Similar inter-war stock with some post-war additions. Lower investment in energy upgrades compared to central areas.
View Brislington EPC data →56.8%
D or below
2.5%
F–G rated
Terraced
Most common type
1930–1949
Dominant era
1930s–1940s terraced housing with small sample size (3,779 certs). Solid wall construction is less common here — cavity wall insulation is the main opportunity.
View Kingswood EPC data →55.8%
D or below
2.3%
F–G rated
Terraced
Most common type
1900–1929
Dominant era
Bristol’s largest dataset (24,634 certs). Edwardian terraces (1900–1929) with solid walls dominate. High rental density (45.4%) but historically low improvement investment.
View Easton EPC data →55.0%
D or below
2.3%
F–G rated
Terraced
Most common type
1900–1929
Dominant era
Edwardian terraces (1900–1929) with typical solid-wall construction. Shares BS7 postcode with Horfield (#11), which shows the same pattern.
View Bishopston EPC data →Is your property bringing down your area’s average — or beating it? Find out with an EPC from £55.
Get Your EPC →Modern purpose-built flats (2007+), high insulation standards, efficient communal heating. The only Bristol area averaging Band C. 64.0% rated A–C.
View Stokes Croft EPC data →Post-war housing with cavity walls. High proportion of newer flats built to modern standards. 55.9% rated A–C.
View Filton EPC data →Mix of 1930s–1950s terraces with some newer infill developments. Cavity walls common — easier and cheaper to insulate. 48.9% rated A–C.
View Fishponds EPC data →Edwardian terraces that have benefited from gentrification-driven improvements. Loft insulation and boiler upgrades widespread. 47.0% rated A–C.
View Bedminster EPC data →Shares BS3 postcode with Bedminster. Eco-conscious community driving higher improvement uptake. 47.0% rated A–C.
View Southville EPC data →Pre-1900 housing dominates the bottom of the rankings. Solid-wall construction is the biggest drag on scores — these walls lose heat at roughly three times the rate of insulated cavity walls. Areas like Redland, Cotham, and Clifton are overwhelmingly pre-1900 stock. See our Victorian home EPC guide for the full era-by-era breakdown.
Modern purpose-built flats score well because they share walls with neighbouring units, reducing heat loss. Converted Victorian houses score poorly — they inherit the original building’s thermal envelope. Terraces fall in between, benefiting from shared party walls but often having solid-wall construction.
Areas with high rental density sometimes show lower averages due to historically lower improvement investment. The Government’s proposed 2030 EPC C requirement for rental properties will force significant change — particularly in areas like BS6 where 66.8% of rental properties are currently below C.
Some of Bristol’s worst-performing areas (Clifton, Cotham, Redland) are architecturally protected. Planning restrictions limit external wall insulation, window replacement, and other visible alterations — leaving owners with fewer (and often more expensive) improvement options.
Properties in the bottom-ranked areas typically pay an estimated £300–500 more per year in energy costs compared to properties in the top-ranked areas, reflecting the gap between Band D and Band C performance.
EPC ratings increasingly factor into property valuations. Buyers and tenants are more conscious of running costs, and mortgage lenders are beginning to offer better rates for energy-efficient homes.
Most properties in these areas have significant headroom for improvement. A typical upgrade programme of loft insulation, boiler replacement, and heating controls can improve a score by 10–20 points. See our EPC cost guide for what’s involved.
In the worst-performing postcode (BS6 — Redland and Cotham), 66.8% of rental properties are rated below C. Across all bottom 10 areas, landlords face the biggest challenge meeting the October 2030 deadline for EPC Band C compliance.
With fines of up to £30,000 per property for non-compliance, landlords in these areas need to start planning upgrades now.
| Postcode | Areas | Rentals Below C |
|---|---|---|
| BS6 | Redland, Cotham | 66.8% |
| BS8 | Clifton | 62.2% |
| BS9 | Henleaze, Westbury-on-Trym | 59.6% |
| BS4 | Knowle, Brislington | 50.4% |
| BS5 | Easton | 49.7% |
| BS7 | Bishopston, Horfield | 47.3% |
| BS15 | Kingswood | 46.9% |
For the full rental compliance picture, see our landlord EPC guide and Bristol rental EPC ratings.
Bristol landlord in one of these areas? Get your EPC now and start planning for 2030.
Get Your EPC →Area averages reflect the overall housing stock — they don’t predict your individual property’s rating. A well-improved Victorian terrace in a low-ranked area could easily outperform an unimproved property in a high-ranked area.
The only way to know your property’s actual rating is to get an EPC. A qualified assessor evaluates your specific walls, windows, heating system, insulation, and more — not your postcode.
Learn more about what’s involved in our domestic EPC guide.
Henleaze and Westbury-on-Trym (both BS9) have the lowest average EPC scores in Bristol at 61 (Band D). 68.7% of properties there are rated D or below. The area is dominated by large 1930s semi-detached houses with high heat loss through walls and roofs.
Construction era is the main factor. Areas dominated by pre-1900 housing (Redland, Cotham, Clifton) and inter-war stock (Henleaze, Westbury-on-Trym) score lowest due to solid-wall construction, original single glazing, and older heating systems. Modern areas like Stokes Croft (2007+ flats) score significantly higher.
Not necessarily. Area averages reflect the overall housing stock, not individual properties. A well-improved Victorian terrace in a low-ranked area could easily outperform an unimproved property in a high-ranked area. The only way to know your property’s actual rating is to get an EPC assessment.
Yes — most properties in low-rated areas have significant headroom for improvement. A typical upgrade programme of loft insulation, boiler replacement, and heating controls can improve a score by 10–20 points. Even in conservation areas like Clifton, internal wall insulation and secondary glazing can make a meaningful difference.
It varies by property, but the gap between a Band D and Band C property can mean hundreds of pounds per year in additional energy costs. Properties in the bottom-ranked areas typically pay an estimated £300–500 more per year compared to properties in the top-ranked areas.
Data source: UK Government EPC Open Data Register (epc.opendatacommunities.org). All Energy Performance Certificates lodged for domestic properties within Bristol postcodes BS1–BS16.
Certificate count: 192,961 certificates analysed across 16 named Bristol areas.
Postcode aggregation: Data is aggregated at postcode district level (e.g., BS3, BS6). Some neighbouring areas share a postcode district and therefore show identical statistics — for example, Bedminster and Southville both fall within BS3, Redland and Cotham within BS6, Bishopston and Horfield within BS7, Henleaze and Westbury-on-Trym within BS9, and Knowle and Brislington within BS4. This is noted transparently throughout.
Ranking method: Areas are ranked by average EPC score (lowest first). Where scores are tied, the area with the lower percentage of A–C rated properties is ranked worse.
Analysis by: EPC Bristol (Every Property Certificate Ltd).
Last updated: March 2026.
Book from £55 across all Bristol postcodes BS1–BS16. Your EPC includes a personalised recommendations report showing which improvements will make the biggest difference.
