Energy Performance Certificates in Longfield

Common property types

• 1960s and 1970s estate housing: The bulk of Longfield's residential development came in the 1960s and 1970s, when several estates of semi-detached and detached houses were built on the village fringes toward New Barn and Hartley. These brick cavity wall properties are generally treatable from an EPC perspective, though the insulation standards of the era mean many have inadequate loft and wall insulation by today's standards. Unfilled cavities are common, and loft insulation frequently falls short of 270mm.
• Village centre cottages and older properties: The older core of Longfield village contains a mix of Victorian and Edwardian cottages and small terraces. These solid-wall properties typically score E or F. Some have been significantly modernised. new boilers, double glazing, insulation. but the wall construction remains the dominant factor in the rating. Internal insulation is difficult in these older, lower-ceilinged properties.
• Detached family houses in New Barn and Hartley: The DA3 postcode includes the hamlets of New Barn and Hartley, where detached family houses on generous plots are common. Some of these are 1930s and 1940s builds; others are 1960s-80s. A proportion of the more rural properties are not connected to mains gas and use oil or LPG heating, which scores differently in RDSAP assessments and typically lower than mains gas.
• Bungalows in Hartley and New Barn: The DA3 area has a notable number of bungalows, particularly in the quieter roads around Hartley. These single-storey properties are generally straightforward to assess, with good loft access and simple layouts. Many were built in the 1950s-60s and benefit from cavity wall insulation and loft top-up.
• Barn conversions and rural properties: On the more rural edges of the DA3 postcode, converted barns and farmhouses exist. These can be complex to assess due to non-standard construction, unusual heating systems, and sometimes mixed wall types. They are often off the gas grid and rely on oil or LPG.
• Newer builds: Some more recent development has taken place in the Longfield area, particularly on the edges of New Barn. Properties built after 2000 typically achieve C or B ratings and require minimal improvement work.

Typical EPC issues we find in Longfield

• Oil and LPG heating: A higher proportion of Longfield properties use oil or LPG heating compared to urban areas, reflecting the semi-rural character. Oil boilers score lower than mains gas in RDSAP, and LPG scores lower still. This is one of the most common reasons for D or E ratings in the DA3 postcode. Converting to mains gas (where available) or an air source heat pump is often recommended but requires infrastructure investment.
• Inadequate insulation in 1960s-70s stock: The estate housing from this era was built to lower insulation standards than today. Cavity walls were often left unfilled, loft insulation is frequently below the 270mm standard, and older double glazing may be past its effective life. These are straightforward recommendations to improve the SAP score.
• Solid walls in village centre properties: Victorian and Edwardian cottages in the village core have no cavity to fill. The limited options for improvement. internal or external wall insulation. mean these properties tend to remain at D or E ratings without significant investment.
• Older double glazing past its lifespan: Many 1960s-70s properties in Longfield had double glazing installed in the 1990s or early 2000s. After 20-25 years, sealed units can fail and lose their insulating properties. Failed units are assessed as single glazing in RDSAP, which drags the score down.
• Uninsulated flat roof extensions: Rear kitchen and utility room extensions with flat roofs are common on the estate housing. These flat roofs were often built with minimal insulation and are a significant source of heat loss. Adding insulation above or below is one of the easier improvements available.