Questions and answers
If yours is not here, ring or email and we will answer it.
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.
What if I already have an EPC?
Check it on the government register first, using the postcode. If it is still in date you may not need a new one to sell or let.
If you have improved the property since it was issued, a new assessment can show the better rating. For a landlord that can be the difference between meeting the minimum standard and not.
What if my property gets a low rating?
The certificate lists the improvements that would raise the rating, with an indication of cost and the likely saving on bills, from loft insulation through to a new heating system. The assessor will talk you through the ones that matter for your property.
If you let the property, it must currently reach at least E, or you need to register an exemption. The government has confirmed it intends to raise the minimum for rented homes to C or the equivalent by 1 October 2030 under the planned rules, so it is worth knowing where you stand now.
Booking and the visit
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.
When will I receive my EPC?
Once the balance is paid we lodge the certificate on the national register and email you the PDF and the certificate number, usually within two working days of the visit.
Your solicitor or agent can look it up on the register straight away using the address or the certificate number.
Prices and paying
How much does an EPC cost?
The price depends on the number of bedrooms. The current price list is on our Prices page, and the booking form shows your exact price before you confirm anything. Six or more bedrooms, or an unusual layout, and we quote individually.
There is no VAT to add. You pay a £30 deposit when you book and the balance after the visit, before the certificate is lodged.
Landlords
Can you assess a tenanted property?
Yes. We arrange the visit at a time that suits the tenant, and they or a key holder can let the assessor in.
The photographs taken during the visit are of the building and its heating system, for auditing by our accreditation scheme. They do not include people or personal belongings, and they are not published.
What are the EPC rules for rented properties?
In England and Wales a privately rented home currently needs an EPC rating of E or better before it can be let, and that has applied to all tenancies since April 2020. Landlords are not required to spend more than £3,500 including VAT on improvements to get there, and a property that still cannot reach E can be registered on the PRS Exemptions Register. Councils can fine up to £5,000 per property for breaches.
The government’s January 2026 response confirmed its intention to raise the standard to C or the equivalent by 1 October 2030, with a higher spending cap and higher penalties, under regulations it plans to bring in during 2027. Our Landlords and Agents page has the detail and the dates.
Do you offer trade accounts for agents and landlords?
Yes. Estate and letting agents, and landlords with several properties, can settle by invoice, arrange key collection through the office and have a named contact for the account. Tell us how many properties you look after and we will agree a price.
Estate and letting agents
Can you deal with my estate or letting agent?
Yes. Agents book with us regularly, arrange key collection and receive the certificate directly. If you would rather we spoke to your agent about access and timings, give us their details when you book and we will take it from there.
Do you offer trade accounts for agents and landlords?
Yes. Estate and letting agents, and landlords with several properties, can settle by invoice, arrange key collection through the office and have a named contact for the account. Tell us how many properties you look after and we will agree a price.
Book your EPC from £69
Two minutes online with a £30 deposit, or ring us Monday to Saturday.