What an EPC is

An Energy Performance Certificate rates how efficient a home is to run, from A down to G, estimates the cost of heating, hot water and lighting, and lists the improvements that would raise the rating. Every certificate for England and Wales sits on the government register, where anyone can look it up by postcode, and it is valid for ten years.

Who needs one

You need a valid EPC before a home goes on the market to sell or to let, and when a new home is built. A rented home in England and Wales currently has to be rated E or better before it can be let, unless an exemption has been registered. If you are staying put and not letting, you do not need one, though some people get one to see where their heating money goes.

What happens on the day

The assessor walks through every room and measures the property. They record how the walls, roof and floors are built and insulated, the type and age of the windows, the heating system and its controls, how hot water is produced, and the lighting. They will ask to see the loft, the boiler and the meters.

Photographs are taken of the building and its heating system for auditing by the accreditation scheme. They do not include people or personal belongings, and they are not published.

What the assessor checks

Construction and age of the walls, roof and floors. Loft, wall and floor insulation where it can be seen or evidenced. Windows and doors: single, double or triple glazed, and roughly when they were fitted. The main heating system, its fuel, age and controls. Any secondary heating. How hot water is heated and stored. Low-energy lighting. Extensions and conservatories. Solar panels, batteries and heat pumps.

Afterwards

The details go through the government-approved calculation for existing homes to produce the rating and the recommendations. Once the balance is paid, the certificate is lodged on the register and you receive the PDF and the certificate number by email. Your solicitor or agent can look it up straight away.

Preparing for your EPC

The assessor can only record what they can see or what you can show them. Ten minutes of preparation often makes the difference of a band.

Make sure we can get to

The boiler and its controls
The hot water cylinder, if there is one
The loft hatch
Every room, including any extension or conservatory
Electricity and gas meters
Windows and external doors
Solar panels or a battery, if fitted

Have to hand, if you have them

Loft, cavity or solid wall insulation certificates or invoices
The boiler's installation date or commissioning certificate
Solar panel MCS certificate
Building control sign-off for an extension or loft conversion
Window installation certificates

Without evidence, insulation you cannot see is recorded as unknown, and an unknown scores as if it were not there.

Photographs are taken during the visit for auditing by Sterling Accreditation. They are of the building and its heating system and will not include personal information.

From booking to certificate

1
Book
Pick a day and a morning, afternoon or evening slot. £30 deposit holds it.
2
Home visit
The assessor measures up and records the build, insulation, heating, windows and lighting.
3
Lodged
Once the balance is paid, the certificate goes on the government register.
4
Emailed
You get the PDF and certificate number. Solicitors and agents can look it up straight away.

Questions about EPCs

What is an EPC?

An Energy Performance Certificate is a report on how energy efficient a home is. It gives the property a rating from A, the best, down to G, estimates what heating, hot water and lighting cost to run, and lists improvements that would raise the rating.

An accredited assessor produces it after visiting the property, and it is lodged on the national register, where anyone can look it up by postcode. It is valid for ten years.

Do I need an EPC?

You need a valid EPC before you put a home on the market to sell or to let, and when a new home is built. Landlords also need one to let a property, and in England and Wales a rented home currently has to be rated E or better unless an exemption is registered.

If you are staying put and not letting, you do not need one, although some people get one anyway to see where their heating money is going.

How long does an EPC last?

Ten years from the date it is lodged. The register shows the expiry date on every certificate.

If you have made changes since it was issued, such as a new boiler, insulation or double glazing, a new assessment can reflect them. Many landlords ask for one for exactly that reason.

How long does the assessment take?

Most homes take under an hour. Larger properties, extensions, conservatories and homes with more than one heating system take longer.

The assessor needs to see every room, measure the property, photograph the heating system and check the loft, so the visit goes faster if those are easy to get to. We will give you a rough timing when you book.

Do I have to be there for the assessment?

Someone over 18 needs to let the assessor in and stay until the visit is finished. It does not have to be you. A tenant, a family member, a neighbour with a key or your agent is fine, as long as they can open every room, the loft hatch, the meter cupboard and the boiler cupboard.

How do I prepare for an EPC?

Make sure the assessor can reach the boiler, the heating controls, the hot water cylinder if you have one, the loft hatch, every window and every room, including any extension or conservatory.

Have paperwork ready for anything that helps the rating: insulation certificates, the installation date of a new boiler, solar panel documents, building control sign-off for an extension. Without evidence the assessor has to record what can be seen, which can mean a lower rating than the property deserves.

The full checklist is on our Domestic EPCs page.

All questions and answers

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