Do you need a new EPC before selling or letting a home?
Check the register and the certificate date before commissioning another domestic Energy Performance Certificate.
Start with the existing certificate
Before paying for a new Energy Performance Certificate, search the official energy certificate register using the property's postcode or address. A domestic EPC gives a home an energy efficiency rating from A to G and normally remains valid for 10 years, unless a newer EPC is produced for the same building. If the register shows a current certificate that covers the property you are marketing, you can usually use it again. Keep a copy with the sale or letting paperwork.
When should you arrange an EPC?
For a home in England or Wales, the seller or landlord generally needs an EPC when the property is sold or rented out. The certificate must be ordered before marketing starts and made available to prospective buyers or tenants. An accredited assessor must visit and assess the property if a new certificate is needed. A valuation, old sales particulars or a neighbour's EPC cannot replace the certificate for your home. Some buildings and transactions are exempt, so check the government's domestic EPC guidance if the property is unusual.
What if the home has changed since the last assessment?
An existing EPC does not automatically expire because you install insulation, replace a boiler or change windows. It may, however, no longer describe the current home accurately. A new assessment can document improvements and provide an updated rating. If you are letting a home, also check the separate minimum energy efficiency rules that may apply; an EPC's 10-year validity is not permission to let a property below the applicable standard. The domestic private rented property guidance explains the current minimum standard and exemptions.
Prepare for the assessment
Have the full address, access arrangements and any relevant evidence ready. Evidence might include details of loft or wall insulation and recent heating changes. The assessor can tell you what evidence can be used under the assessment method; do not assume an improvement can be recorded without it. Our domestic EPC service explains what to provide and lets you check the booking options. For a shop, office or other business premises, use the service directory to select the correct assessment route.