What is an Energy Performance Certificate?  

Since 2021 new household appliances have come with a multi-coloured sticker that rates their energy efficiency from A (very efficient) to G (very inefficient). An Energy Performance Certificate works in much the same way, but for your house or property. It tells you: 

• How energy efficient your home is  
• The figures you need to calculate the cost of lighting and heating your home  
• What your CO2 emissions are likely to be  
• What the energy rating could be with specific improvements 
• Cost-effective improvements you could make  

Valid for ten years from the date of issue, they offer valuable information that allows you or potential buyers to make simple changes to prevent energy loss, reduce your carbon footprint and ultimately save money in the long run. The figures are based on the output of a typical household living in that property.

They’re not tailored to your circumstances – this is important to bear in mind if, for example, you’re a couple buying a four-bedroom house, as your energy efficiency will be better than a family of four in the same property.  

Why Do You Need One? 

You need an EPC if:  

• Your property is being built 
• Your property is for sale
• Your property is for rent  

It needs to be available as soon as your building is on the market so that renters and buyers can make comparisons and fully informed decisions about which property they choose. It highlights to them what improvements they could make, how much they’ll cost and how much they’ll save – this is ideal for anyone looking to renovate or restore a property.

Once you’ve made improvements, it is well worth seeking an updated EPC to include the changes and get a better rating.  

For more information, visit: Why do you need an EPC? 

What Are the Current Laws?  

An EPC is a compulsory legal requirement and must be valid when leasing or selling a property. An EPC is only valid for ten years and updating it when it runs out is essential. It became enforceable in 2008, so if you’ve owned the property for longer than that, you must check and update it. 

Some property types are exempt. For example, places of worship, industrial sites, workshops and non-residential agricultural buildings do not need one. These properties must be registered on the national register and are only valid for five years.  

In 2020 it was made illegal to rent or sell a property with an EPC rating of F or G. However, this is set to change again in 2025 when all rental properties need an EPC rating of C or above. In 2028 this will apply to all tenancies. In Scotland, all properties must have the EPC displayed somewhere in the home; this is not a requirement in England and Wales.  

Who is Responsible?  

The people responsible for the EPC are:  

• The landlord, in the case of rental properties.  
• The seller, in the case of property sales. 
• The person responsible for the construction when a property is being built. 

According to the UK government website, you can be fined without a valid EPC.  

Can Anyone Do an EPC?  

No, an EPC must be carried out by an accredited EPC assessor. You will need to arrange for one if you want an EPC certificate.  

How Do You Get One?  

You can find an assessor for your home, business or property via the government’s official register.  

How Much Does an EPC Cost?  

An EPC in the UK can cost anywhere from £60 to £120, so it is important to search around and compare costs to get the best deal.  

How Long Does It Take?  

A domestic EPC property should take between 30 to 40 minutes; whilst a commercial EPC, it should take around 45 minutes.  

For more information, please visit: How long does as an EPC last? 

Explore Our EPC Services  

At EPC For You, we pride ourselves on providing you with personable and professional EPC assessors who will visit your property at a reasonable price. Having won awards in 2019, we are one of the UK’s leading Energy Survey Companies, promising a high standard of service with offices across the UK.  

They will make sure to access every room to give you the most accurate assessment based on all heating and lighting fixtures in your home. Using a combination of figures, photographs, dimensions and other input data, we will feed this information into a government-approved software programme to give you an EPC you can trust and recommendations that will make your home more energy efficient.  

We guarantee professional assessors, quality standards and government-approved processes. Explore our services today or contact us to book your domestic or commercial EPC.