According to Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (Directive 2002/91/EC—the EPBD), which became law in the UK in January 2009, buildings offered for sale or rental were required to provide an EPC. 
As of the 21st May 2010, if you decide to place your property on the market for sale or rent in England and Wales you will need to commission an EPC.
This requirement occurs “as soon as a building is in the process” of sale or rental, which includes verbal enquiries for building particulars and requests for viewing.


A commercial Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) is an energy report that determins energy rating for a building which is based on the energy performance that building. Services such as lighting, heating and ventilation are taken into account as well as the way in which these services are controlled.

The ratings on a commercial EPC start from G (least energy efficient), going up to an A for the most energy efficient building. Energy rating given on the certificate will reflect the intrinsic energy performance standard of the building relative to a benchmark.

It is a legal requirement. Whether you are renting, selling or commissioning a new building you have to have an EPC. It gives the prospective buyer or tenant informational proof on energy efficiency of the property.
Once you have one, it will be valid for 10 years, unless there is a material change to the building. And you will get it accompanied by a recommendation report, which provides recommendations on how the energy performance of the building could be enhanced, together with an indication of the payback period