Rising energy prices: the five Sandwell neighbourhoods set to be hardest hit

On 1 April energy bills are set to skyrocket for homeowners in Sandwell and across England.

The energy price cap rise of 54% means almost £700 will be added onto bills on average, but official government data shows some neighbourhoods in Sandwell could be hit harder than others.

That’s because properties with low energy efficiency ratings generally have higher bills than homes with high energy efficiency ratings.

How does the data work?

The energy efficiency of homes is assessed when they are built, sold or let.

They are given Energy Performance Certificates which reveal how much energy a property will use, how environmentally friendly the property is and importantly, how much energy bills will cost.

Homes are rated from A, the most energy efficient with the lowest running costs, to G, the least efficient with the highest running costs.

The figures do not reflect all homes in the area because not every dwelling has an EPC. The figures are based on estimates for the 2020/21 financial year.

Here we reveal which neighbourhoods in Sandwell have the greatest proportion of homes with energy efficiency ratings of D or lower, according to data from the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities

What does the data show for Sandwell?

In Sandwell, residents in Bearwood & Warley Woods will want to be checking the insulation on their homes as 91.2% had a poor EPC, followed by Warley South where it was 89.3%

The five Sandwell neighbourhoods with the greatest proportion of homes with energy efficiency ratings of D or lower:

1. Bearwood & Warley Woods (91.2%)

2. Warley South (89.3%)

3. Warley East (81.7%)

4. Great Barr (81.1%)

5. Warley West (78.0)

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