What is an EPC Certificate?

An Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) is an official document that rates a property's energy efficiency on a scale from A (most efficient) to G (least efficient) — see our guide to what each EPC rating means. It estimates your likely heating and lighting costs, notes the property's environmental impact, and lists cost-effective ways to improve the rating. The requirement comes from the Energy Performance of Buildings (England and Wales) Regulations 2012.

EPCs are produced by an accredited assessor after a short survey of your property and are valid for 10 years from the date of issue. Typical prices run from £35 to £120 — our EPC cost guide breaks down what you should pay.

What an EPC measures

• The SAP score (1–100+) that maps to a rating band from A to G, based on estimated running costs.
• Estimated annual costs for heating, hot water and lighting.
• The property's carbon dioxide emissions (shown as a separate environmental rating).
• A prioritised list of recommended improvements and their likely impact on the rating.

Who needs an EPC?

You must have a valid EPC whenever a property is built, sold or rented in England and Wales. Specifically:

• Selling: you need a valid EPC before you market the property for sale, as set out in GOV.UK's guidance on EPCs when buying or selling. There is no minimum rating to sell.
• Renting: landlords must provide an EPC to tenants, and the property must currently meet at least an EPC E rating under the minimum energy efficiency standard (MEES) — see our landlord rules guide.
• Building: new-build properties require an EPC on completion.

From 2030: EPC C for rentals

From 1 October 2030, the minimum rating for privately rented properties rises from E to C under the Minimum Energy Efficiency Standards (MEES) — confirmed in the government's response on improving privately rented homes. See our landlord rules 2030 guide for the cost cap and exemptions, and how to improve your rating for the upgrades that get you there.

How to get an EPC

Only an accredited Domestic Energy Assessor can issue a valid EPC — find one through the official Get a new energy certificate service, or see our step-by-step guide to getting a new EPC. Since 15 June 2025, assessments use the more evidence-based RdSAP 10 methodology, so it helps to have documentation for your heating system, insulation and glazing to hand. The assessor visits, takes measurements, then lodges the certificate on the national register.

You can check whether a property already has a valid EPC — and download it free — on the official register at gov.uk/find-energy-certificate.

EPCs are changing in 2027

From the second half of 2027, reformed EPCs built on the Home Energy Model will replace today's format, showing four headline metrics instead of a single A–G score. Existing certificates stay valid for their full 10-year term. Our EPC 2027 guide covers every confirmed change, and what changed in 2026 explains how we got here.