Do I need an EPC to sell or rent my home?

What an EPC shows

An Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) tells you:

• how much energy the home uses and what it typically costs to run
• its energy efficiency rating, from A (best) to G (worst)
• steps you could take to make the home more efficient and save money

When you need one

You need an EPC when a home is built, sold or rented out. One EPC lasts 10 years and can be used again and again in that time.

Buildings that do not need one

• temporary buildings used for less than 2 years
• stand alone buildings under 50 square metres
• holiday lets rented out for less than 4 months a year
• homes used for less than 4 months a year
• places of worship
• some buildings due to be knocked down
• workshops and industrial sites that use little energy
• listed buildings, if the changes needed would spoil their character

How to find or get an EPC

1. Check for an existing one. Use the GOV.UK "find an energy certificate" service for homes in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. Scotland has its own register.
2. If there is no valid EPC, book an assessor. You must use an accredited assessor and pay their fee. Use the GOV.UK "find an accredited assessor" service, or ask your estate agent to arrange it.

Rules for landlords in England and Wales

Private landlords must meet a minimum energy standard. Since 1 April 2020, you cannot let a home, or keep letting it, if its EPC rating is below E, unless you have registered a valid exemption.

You do not have to spend more than £3,500 (including VAT) on improvements to meet the rule. If you reach that cap and the home is still below E, you can register an exemption.

The council can fine landlords who break these rules:

The most you can be fined in total for one property is £5,000. The government has said it wants as many rented homes as possible to reach EPC band C by 2030.

If you live in Scotland or Northern Ireland

• Scotland: you must display the EPC somewhere in the home, for example in the meter cupboard or next to the boiler.
• Northern Ireland: EPCs are needed when a home is built, sold or rented, and last 10 years. District councils enforce the rules and can issue a penalty charge notice.

Related guides

• What is selective licensing for landlords?
• Do I need an HMO licence?
• What is the Renters' Rights Act and who does it cover?
• How much Stamp Duty will I pay?

Where this comes from

• Energy Performance Certificates when buying or selling (GOV.UK)
• Find an energy certificate (GOV.UK)
• Domestic private rented property: minimum energy efficiency standard, landlord guidance (GOV.UK)
• Energy Performance Certificates in Northern Ireland (nidirect)