Glossary · Controls, energy efficiency and insulation
What is an EPC (Energy Performance Certificate)?
An Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) rates how energy efficient a property is on a scale from A (best) to G (worst). It shows typical energy use and costs and lists steps to improve the rating. You need one when you sell, rent out or build a property, and it is valid for 10 years.
Key points
- An EPC gives a rating from A (best) to G (worst) and is valid for 10 years.
- You must have an EPC when you sell, rent out or build a property, and you must order it before you market the property.
- Every EPC lists recommended improvements, so it doubles as a to-do list for lowering energy use.
- Landlords of most private rented homes in England and Wales cannot let a property rated below E unless they hold a valid exemption.
- You can check any property's EPC for free on the GOV.UK find an energy certificate service.
How an EPC works
An Energy Performance Certificate tells you how energy efficient a property is. It gives the property a rating from A (best) to G (worst) and is valid for 10 years.[1]GOV.UK, Selling a home: Energy Performance Certificates It contains information about the property’s energy use and typical energy costs, and steps you could take to improve its efficiency and save money.[1]GOV.UK, Selling a home: Energy Performance Certificates
The rules come from the Energy Performance of Buildings Regulations (England and Wales) 2012. They require a property to have an EPC when it is constructed, sold or let. For an EPC to be valid, it must be lodged on the national register by an accredited energy assessor.[8]Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government, Energy Performance of Buildings Certificates: notes and definitions
You must order an EPC for potential buyers and tenants before you market a property to sell or rent. You can be fined if you do not get one when you need it, and the seller, landlord or letting agent must show it to buyers and tenants.[1]GOV.UK, Selling a home: Energy Performance Certificates
To check what a property already has, use the GOV.UK service to find an energy certificate. You can search by postcode, street name and town, or certificate number.[3]GOV.UK, Find an energy certificate If there is none, or it has expired, an accredited assessor can produce a new one. The cost varies by assessor and the size of the property.[2]GOV.UK, Get a new energy certificate
What an EPC means for owners, landlords and grants
| Situation | What the EPC does |
|---|---|
| Selling | Must be available to buyers before you market the property |
| Letting | Must be available to tenants. Most private lets in England and Wales need band E or better |
| Applying for the Energy Company Obligation | Owners need band D, E, F or G. Private tenants need E, F or G |
| Applying for the Warm Homes: Local Grant | The home must be band D, E, F or G |
Landlords are covered by the minimum energy efficiency standard. Since 1 April 2020, covered properties rated below E cannot be let or continue to be let without a valid exemption. The cost cap is £3,500 including VAT, so a landlord is not currently required to spend more than that.[4]Department for Energy Security and Net Zero, Domestic private rented property: minimum energy efficiency standard - landlord guidance Our boiler grants page covers support that may be available.
How to improve your EPC rating
Every EPC lists recommendations, both a short list of top actions and a longer list of all recommended measures.[4]Department for Energy Security and Net Zero, Domestic private rented property: minimum energy efficiency standard - landlord guidance Those recommendations are the best starting point because they are written for your property.
GOV.UK also runs a service that gives recommendations for England and Wales, with an estimated cost and estimated bill saving for each improvement.[5]GOV.UK, Find ways to save energy in your home Typical measures that government schemes pay for include loft insulation, cavity wall insulation, heating upgrades or boiler replacement under the Energy Company Obligation, and smart controls, underfloor insulation, air source heat pumps and solar panels under the Warm Homes: Local Grant.[6]GOV.UK, Help from your energy supplier: the Energy Company Obligation[7]GOV.UK, Apply for the Warm Homes: Local Grant to improve a home The Warm Homes Plan sets out the wider government programme.
Example
Tom owns a two-bedroom terrace in Bradford that he lets out. A new tenant is due in a month. He finds the property’s EPC on the GOV.UK service and sees it is rated F. Because the property is covered by the minimum standard, he must improve it to E or register an exemption before the new tenancy starts. He reads the recommendations on the certificate, carries out the measures he can afford up to the £3,500 cap, and orders a new EPC from an accredited assessor to confirm the new band.
What people get wrong
Many owners think the EPC is a pass or fail test. It is a rating with recommendations. Only specific uses, such as letting, set a minimum band.
The other common mistake is treating an EPC as permanent. It is valid for 10 years. If you have made improvements since the last assessment, ordering a new EPC from an accredited assessor is how you record them.
The bottom line
An EPC rates a property from A to G, lasts 10 years and lists the steps that would improve it. You need one to sell or let, and most private landlords must reach band E. The recommendations on the certificate are the best guide to which upgrades will move the rating. Check the register first, then order a new EPC from an accredited assessor if yours is missing or out of date.
Common questions
How long does an EPC last?
An EPC is valid for 10 years. You can check whether your property has a valid one, and download it free, on the GOV.UK find an energy certificate service.
Do I need an EPC to sell or rent my home?
Yes. You must have an EPC when you sell, rent out or build a property, and you must order it for potential buyers and tenants before you market the property. You can be fined if you do not get one when you need it.
What is the minimum EPC rating for a rented home?
For most private rented homes in England and Wales the minimum is band E. Since 1 April 2020 landlords cannot let or keep letting a covered property rated F or G unless they have a valid exemption.
How do I get a new EPC?
Pay an accredited energy assessor to assess the property. You can find one through the GOV.UK get a new energy certificate service. The cost varies by assessor and by the size of the property.
Sources
We cite the original source for every figure: government, regulators, standards bodies and manufacturers' own documents. Each one shows the date we last checked it.
- GOV.UK. Selling a home: Energy Performance Certificates. Checked 11 November 2026. ↩
- GOV.UK. Get a new energy certificate. Checked 11 November 2026. ↩
- GOV.UK. Find an energy certificate. Checked 11 November 2026. ↩
- Department for Energy Security and Net Zero. Domestic private rented property: minimum energy efficiency standard - landlord guidance. Checked 11 November 2026. ↩
- GOV.UK. Find ways to save energy in your home. Checked 11 November 2026. ↩
- GOV.UK. Help from your energy supplier: the Energy Company Obligation. Checked 11 November 2026. ↩
- GOV.UK. Apply for the Warm Homes: Local Grant to improve a home. Checked 11 November 2026. ↩
- Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government. Energy Performance of Buildings Certificates: notes and definitions. Checked 11 November 2026. ↩