Information from https://www.gov.uk/buy-sell-your-home/energy-performance-certificates

Energy Performance Certificates

EPCs are needed whenever a property is:

• built
• sold
• rented

You must order an EPC for potential buyers and tenants before you market your property to sell or rent.

An EPC contains:

• information about a property’s energy use and typical energy costs
• recommendations about how to reduce energy use and save money

An EPC gives a property an energy efficiency rating from A (most efficient) to G (least efficient) and is valid for 10 years. 

How to get an EPC

You’ll need to find an accredited assessor. They’ll assess your property and produce the certificate.

Click here to find an energy assessor in England, Wales and Northern Ireland.

You can be fined if you do not get an EPC when you need one.

Buildings that do not need an EPC

• places of worship
• temporary buildings that will be used for less than 2 years
• stand-alone buildings with total useful floor space of less than 50 square metres
• industrial sites, workshops and non-residential agricultural buildings that do not use a lot of energy
• some buildings that are due to be demolished
• holiday accommodation that’s rented out for less than 4 months a year or is let under a licence to occupy
• listed buildings – you should get advice from your local authority conservation officer if the work would alter the building’s character
• residential buildings intended to be used less than 4 months a year

Find an EPC

You can look at an EPC for your own property or for other properties free of charge. This lets you compare your home’s energy performance with that of similar homes.

Click here to find an EPC.

EPC FAQ’s

Tony Baker, Marches Energy Agency

How much does an EPC cost?

Expect to pay around £80 for an EPC. When selling your property, your estate agent may offer you a photos + EPC package for around £100.

Do I need an EPC for the Boiler Upgrade Scheme? (£7,500 Government grant towards the cost of a new heat pump when replacing a possible fuel heating system)

Yes! You need a valid EPC. EPCs expire after 10 years.

Should I follow the recommendations on my EPC to make my home more energy efficient?

Possibly. EPCs don’t have a great reputation for accuracy unfortunately, because they are based on a lot of assumptions about ‘typical’ houses and ‘typical’ householder behaviour. For significant improvement to your home’s energy efficiency we would always recommend obtaining a professional retrofit plan tailored to your home.

What EPC rating does my property need to be rented out?

Currently any property that does not have an EPC rating of E or above (ie is F or G) cannot be rented out to tenants.