The significance of energy performance certificates and how to obtain one

If you are building, renting, or selling a house, you must obtain an Energy Performance Certificate

Everything you need to know about them is provided here.

In addition to being required by law, Energy Performance Certificates (EPCs) are being examined more closely by prospective homeowners.

Buyer demand for homes with an EPC rating of A increased by 22% in July of this year compared to July of 2025, according to data from the real estate website Rightmove.

"A home's energy efficiency can influence buyer demand, how quickly it sells, and ultimately the price a buyer is willing to pay," stated Colleen Babcock, a Rightmove property expert.

More energy-efficient homes are performing better in terms of price, whereas properties with lower EPC ratings are generally experiencing slower price growth."

Watch the entire video here: EPCs were introduced by the government in 2007 and give a rating based on how energy-efficient a property is.

A represents the most efficient home, while G represents the least efficient. The certificate also provides suggestions for improving a home's energy efficiency and the savings that can be achieved by putting them into practice.

For instance, yours may advise you to install solar panels to reduce your electricity costs or to add draught proofing around your property.

Why is an Energy Performance Certificate necessary?

When building, renting, or selling real estate, EPCs are legally required.

Before listing a property for sale or rent, you must order an EPC for prospective tenants or buyers.

Additionally, you have to post the EPC somewhere on the property, such as next to the boiler, in Scotland. Homes in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland are exempt from this regulation.

It's worthwhile to see if your EPC is about to expire because they are good for ten years.

How can one obtain an Energy Performance Certificate?

By entering your postcode, street name, town, or EPC number, you can use gov . uk to see if your property has a valid EPC.

An EPC's digital version will let you know when it's about to expire and how much you could score by improving your energy use.

Wales and England have an average energy rating of D (60).

You will have to pay for a new EPC from an accredited assessor if, after following these procedures, your property and digital EPC do not appear or if your EPC has expired. Through gov . uk, you can locate one.

The size of your property and the assessor determine how much the assessment will cost. You will normally pay between 65 and 120, according to the trading platform Checkatrade.

Following completion, you should receive a digital copy of your certificate from the assessor.

Are EPCs available for free or at a discount?

You should see if your bank, building society, or energy company can provide you with a free or reduced EPC.

Free EPCs are available to members of the Skipton Building Society. Customers who install solar panels, heat pumps, and insulation in their homes can receive free EPCs and cashback from Lloyds Bank. Santander customers can receive an EPC for 75 if they have a Santander mortgage or personal current account. Customers who purchase qualifying mortgages can receive free EPCs from the Buy-to-Let Lender Foundation. For £25, OVO Energy customers can have a Home Health Report, which includes an EPC, completed on their property.

The evolution of Energy Performance Certificate regulations.

With the introduction of a new framework, EPCs will now have four cost metrics rather than just one: energy cost, fabric performance, heating system, and smart readiness.

The reforms were supposed to go into effect in October 2026, but they have been postponed. The second half of 2027 is when they are currently scheduled to be implemented.

In addition, the Minimum Energy Efficiency Standard (MEES) requires landlords to guaranty that all private rental properties have an EPC rating of C or higher by 2030, up from the current E.

However, under the new framework that will be implemented starting in 2027, they will need to make sure they meet the C rating.

In the fabric performance metric, landlords will need to meet a C standard. They can accomplish this by, for instance, installing double glazing, cavity wall insulation, or loft insulation.

After that, they must meet the C standard in either the smart readiness metric or the heating systems. Installing a heat pump or low-carbon heat network can help them meet the heating systems metric. Solar panels or smart electric vehicle (EV) chargers can help them meet the smart readiness metric.

Whether or not to meet the smart readiness metric or the heating systems will be up to the landlord.

What situations do you not require an Energy Performance Certificate?

An EPC is not required for any of the following.

Temporary structures with a two-year lifespan; standalone structures with a total useful floor area of less than fifty square meters; industrial sites and workshops; buildings scheduled for demolition; vacation rentals that are rented out for fewer than four months of the year; residential structures meant to be used for fewer than four months of the year; and places of worship.