How to Get an EPC Certificate for Your Home

An Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) rates a home's energy efficiency from A to G. If you are selling or letting, check whether a valid certificate already exists before ordering a fresh assessment.

1. Check your existing certificate

Most EPCs are valid for 10 years. In England, Wales and Northern Ireland you can search the official register by address; Scotland has a different register. If the certificate is valid, you may not need a new one. A reassessment after energy improvements may be useful if you want those changes reflected in a new rating.

2. Find an accredited domestic energy assessor

An EPC for a home must be produced by an accredited assessor. Confirm their scheme membership, availability and total price, including lodgement. Share the address, property type and any deadline before accepting a quote.

3. Arrange the visit

The assessor inspects energy-related features such as the heating system, insulation and glazing. Make access straightforward and have any relevant information about improvements ready. The visit is not a structural home survey and does not substitute for one when buying a property.

4. Receive and use the certificate

When the assessment is completed, the certificate is lodged and can be viewed on the appropriate official register. GOV.UK says an EPC must be ordered before marketing a property for sale or rent, unless an exemption applies. Ask the assessor or provider when to expect your copy rather than relying on an unconfirmed same-day promise.

When is a new EPC actually needed?

If an existing certificate is still valid, you may be able to use it when selling or letting rather than commissioning another assessment. Look up the property on the official register and check its expiry date. An EPC normally lasts 10 years, but exceptions to the requirement can apply to some properties. When in doubt about an exemption or a particular tenancy, check current government guidance instead of treating a generic checklist as a legal answer.

Information to have ready for a quote

Give the full property postcode and type, and describe the size and any unusual construction or access arrangements. Tell the assessor if a move, sale or letting date means timing is important. If work has been carried out on insulation or heating, gather any relevant documentation and ask whether it would be useful at the visit. Accurate information helps the assessor give a realistic price and allocate suitable time.

What happens during the assessment?

The assessor records energy-related characteristics of the property, including the heating, glazing, insulation and building fabric. This is a non-structural assessment. It does not tell a buyer whether the roof, walls or drains are in sound condition and is not a substitute for a RICS Level 2 or Level 3 home survey. The eventual EPC gives the current energy rating, a potential rating and recommendations that may improve performance.

How do you receive and check the finished certificate?

After the assessment is processed and lodged, a digital copy can be supplied and the certificate can be found on the relevant official register. Ask when the provider expects it to be available. Check that the address and key details are correct and share the certificate with your estate or letting agent if appropriate. If you find an apparent error, raise it with the assessor and their accreditation scheme rather than assuming a new booking is the only remedy.

Seller, landlord and buyer: different needs

Sellers and landlords generally need to order an EPC before marketing, subject to exemptions. Prospective buyers and tenants should be shown the certificate so they can understand the energy rating. A buyer arranging a home condition survey does not thereby obtain an EPC, and a seller's EPC is not the buyer's survey. If you are unsure which property report you need, decide what question it should answer before paying for it.

Sources and next steps

Check current EPC requirements, the existing-certificate register and assessor guidance. For an assessment of your own home, request a tailored EPC quote.