What Is An EPC?

What is an EPC?

When do I need an EPC? – Legal Requirements

It is a legal requirement in the UK to have a valid EPC when you are selling a property, renting out a property and building a new property. An EPC is valid for 10 years and it must be in place before the property is marketed so it’s available to potential buyers / tenants to view. EPC’s are lodged on a national register on the Gov.Uk website called the ‘EPC Register‘ which is publicly accessible. It is possible to have an EPC removed from the register, so it is not available to be viewed. Failure to have a valid EPC in place before a property is marketed can result in a fine of up to £5000 per property.

All rental properties currently require a valid EPC with a minimum energy rating of ‘E’ in line with EPC ‘Minimum Energy Efficiency Standards’. For more information visit our ‘EPC Minimum Energy Efficiency Requirements (MEES)‘ page.  There are a few exemptions to the MEES law where a property that does not achieve a minimum energy rating of E will not be required to make improvements to bring it into the A to E range. In each case the property owner / landlord can apply for the property to be put on the MEES Exemption Register.
As of January 2025 the UK government is reviewing this minimum rating with a view to raising it to D or C. This review is ongoing.

How the energy performance of a property is calculated?

The energy rating of a property is a complex calculation which is based on a combination of factors including the type and age of the property (i.e. house, bungalow or flat), its construction and size, its insulation and glazing, its space heating and water heating systems and the type of fuel used. The energy rating does not take into account the actual numbers of occupants in a property, the domestic appliances they use and the how they heat their homes (i.e. thermostat temperature preferences and how often and for how long heating is on.

EPC Assessments

An EPC Assessment is carried out by an accredited Domestic Energy Assessor. The assessor will need access to every room in the property, including loft rooms, living rooms, bedrooms, bathrooms, attics and basements. They will walk around the property and sketch a floor plan, capturing all room dimensions and key information that affects the energy efficiency of the property. An assessment usually takes around 30 minutes on site for a three/four bedroom sized house and the assessor will take photos where necessary to provide evidence of the information they capture. The certificate is usually produced within 24 hours of the assessment taking place and it is lodged on the EPC Register. Visit our What Does An EPC Assessment Involve page for more information.

Do I already have an EPC?

You can check the national EPC register at any time. All you need is your post code and address. The register is public access to ensure prospective buyers and tenants can view the EPC. EPCs are automatically uploaded to the EPC Register when they are created. Property owners can opt out of having their properties appear on the register. They have to contact the ‘MHCLG’ (Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government) to do this. To find out more visit our How To Remove an EPC from the EPC Register page.

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