Blog/Guides

Do I Need a New EPC or Can I Use My Existing Certificate?

Check whether an existing Energy Performance Certificate is still valid, when to get a new one and where to look it up.

Find My Surveyor team

Reviewed by a RICS surveyor · 28 Sept 2026 · 3 min read

A property can already have a valid EPC even if you have never been sent a copy. Search the appropriate official register before paying for a fresh assessment.

Check the expiry date

An EPC generally lasts 10 years from lodgement. In England, Wales and Northern Ireland, GOV.UK's certificate search can find it by address. Scotland has a different register. Look at the actual expiry date rather than guessing from the date you last sold or let the home.

When a new assessment makes sense

If no certificate exists, the old one has expired or a new one is required for your circumstances, arrange an accredited domestic energy assessor. A reassessment can also capture improvements made since the earlier EPC, but do not assume changes to the property automatically alter the old certificate.

Before marketing

GOV.UK says an EPC should be ordered before a home is marketed for sale or rent, subject to exemptions. Check the applicable rules for your nation and property, then allow time to book an assessment if needed.

A simple decision path

Find the property on the official register. If the address and certificate are correct and the expiry date is in the future, establish whether a new assessment is necessary for your circumstances or simply desirable after improvements. If no certificate appears, it has expired or it does not cover the correct property, ask an accredited assessor about a new visit. Check official exemptions separately; not every unusual building is automatically exempt.

A 10-year validity check

Find the current certificate by address on the appropriate register and note its expiry date. In England, Wales and Northern Ireland GOV.UK provides the search; Scotland has a separate service. Do not rely solely on a PDF saved during a previous sale. The official record lets you check the address, rating and validity and obtain a fresh copy for an agent if needed.

What if you upgraded the home?

Replacing a boiler, improving glazing or adding insulation does not automatically change the rating on an existing certificate. A fresh assessment can document the updated property, but it is a separate paid visit and there is no guarantee of a particular new band. Gather evidence of works and ask the assessor what they need to inspect or verify.

When to act before marketing

GOV.UK says an EPC must be ordered before a property is marketed for sale or rent, subject to exemptions. If no valid certificate appears on the register, allow time to find an accredited assessor and have the certificate lodged. If a property seems exempt, check the official list rather than assuming age, listing status or holiday use automatically qualifies.

What if the details look wrong?

If an existing certificate refers to the wrong address or seems to omit relevant property information, speak to the assessor or accreditation scheme. A certificate that exists is not automatically fit for the exact property you are marketing. Verify it before giving an agent the link. If it has expired or cannot be located, request a quote for a new domestic EPC.