EPC questions, answered

An Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) rates a property's energy efficiency from A (most efficient) to G (least efficient). It shows the current and potential rating, estimated annual energy costs, and recommended improvements. EPCs are produced by an accredited domestic energy assessor after inspecting the property.

An EPC is valid for 10 years from the date it was lodged on the register. You can keep using it for sales or lettings during that period, even if the property changes hands, unless you want a newer assessment to reflect improvement works.

You need a valid EPC when a property is marketed for sale or rent in England and Wales, and it must be available to prospective buyers or tenants. New-build properties also require one on completion. A small number of buildings are exempt, such as certain listed buildings where the required measures would unacceptably alter their character.

Under the Minimum Energy Efficiency Standards (MEES), most privately rented domestic properties in England and Wales must have an EPC rating of E or better before they can be let, unless a valid exemption is registered. Landlords should check the current government guidance, as the standards are kept under review.

Search by postcode on this site and pick your address from the list of registered properties. If a certificate has been lodged, you'll see the rating, the assessment dates, energy costs and the assessor's recommendations straight away.

The most common reasons are that the property has never been assessed, the certificate has expired and been removed from active results, or the address is recorded slightly differently on the register. Try a neighbouring format of the address or search the full postcode and scan the list. If there is genuinely no certificate, one must be produced by an accredited assessor.

Certificate details are retrieved from the official open-data Energy Performance of Buildings register for England and Wales. We present the data exactly as it was lodged by the assessor — we do not author, amend or re-issue certificates.

You receive a formatted PDF copy of the existing certificate for £0.50. It is a single one-off payment with no subscription. It includes the energy rating graph, property details, estimated annual energy costs, assessed features with their ratings, environmental impact and the full list of recommended improvements. You can download it immediately and have it emailed to you.

No. EPC Certificates Online is an independent search and document service. We are not affiliated with GOV.UK, the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero, or any accreditation scheme. The underlying certificate data is public open data published by government.

Your certificate lists the specific measures recommended for your property, with indicative costs and savings. Typical high-impact improvements are loft and cavity wall insulation, upgrading to a more efficient boiler or heat pump, low-energy lighting, draught-proofing and double or triple glazing. After the works, a new assessment is needed to update the rating.

Yes, but not by us. Corrections must be raised with the assessor who carried out the inspection or with their accreditation scheme. Once an amended certificate is lodged, the updated data appears in search results.

A new domestic assessment is typically arranged directly with an accredited assessor and priced by them, usually depending on property size and location. We do not carry out assessments — we supply copies of certificates that are already on the register.