Frequently Asked Questions About EPCs
Plain answers about EPC costs, validity, landlord rules and commercial requirements.
Cost and booking
A domestic EPC with Choice EPC costs £[X]–£[Y] excluding VAT. The price depends mainly on the size of the property: a studio flat sits at the lower end, and a large house with extensions at the upper end. You see the price before you book.
Commercial EPCs start from £[X] excluding VAT. The final price depends on the floor area, the number of zones and how complex the building services are. Send us the floor area and building use and we will confirm a fixed quote.
You can look up an existing EPC for free on the gov.uk register, but a new assessment is a paid service. If the property already has a valid certificate less than 10 years old, you may not need a new one.
Book an accredited assessor, let them visit, and the certificate is lodged on the government register. With Choice EPC you enter your postcode, choose an assessor and arrival window, and pay online. The visit usually takes 30 to 60 minutes, and the certificate is emailed to you once it is lodged.
About EPCs
No. An EPC must be carried out by an accredited domestic or non-domestic energy assessor who is a member of a government-approved accreditation scheme. Being an electrician does not qualify someone to produce an EPC.
No. An EPC has to be produced and lodged on the register by an accredited assessor. You can, however, help the assessment go smoothly by gathering evidence such as glazing certificates, boiler details and records of insulation work.
An EPC is valid for 10 years from the date it is lodged. You can commission a new one sooner, for example after improvement works, and the most recent certificate is the one that counts.
Use the gov.uk "Find an energy certificate" service. Search by postcode to see any valid certificate, its rating, its expiry date and the recommendations it lists.
Landlords
Privately rented homes in England and Wales currently need an EPC rating of E or above to be let, unless a valid exemption is registered [VERIFY AGAINST GOV.UK]. The government has proposed raising the minimum to C by 2030; check gov.uk for the confirmed timetable before planning work [VERIFY AGAINST GOV.UK].
Usually because the current certificate is about to expire, a new tenancy is starting, or the landlord wants to check the property meets the minimum energy standard. The assessor needs access to each room, the loft if there is one, and the boiler.
A rented property needs a valid EPC, which lasts 10 years. A new one is needed when the old one expires and the property is let to a new tenant, and many landlords renew after improvement works to show the better rating.
Yes. A valid EPC must be provided to tenants at the start of a tenancy, and local authorities can issue penalties for letting without one or for letting below the minimum standard without an exemption [VERIFY AGAINST GOV.UK].
The measures that most often help are loft and cavity wall insulation, upgrading to a modern condensing boiler with proper heating controls, double glazing, and low-energy lighting throughout. Your certificate lists recommendations specific to the property; we explain them but never promise a particular rating.
Commercial and MEES
Yes. Most commercial buildings need a non-domestic EPC when they are built, sold or let. Some buildings are exempt, such as places of worship and certain temporary or low-energy buildings [VERIFY AGAINST GOV.UK].
Generally no. A valid EPC is needed when marketing a commercial building for sale or rent, unless an exemption applies [VERIFY AGAINST GOV.UK]. It is best to arrange it before the property is advertised.
Since April 2023, landlords of non-domestic property in England and Wales cannot continue to let a building with an EPC rating below E unless a valid exemption is registered [VERIFY AGAINST GOV.UK].
Yes. MEES covers privately rented homes as well as commercial lettings. For domestic lets the current minimum is E, with a cost cap on required improvements [VERIFY AGAINST GOV.UK].
The government has proposed that privately rented homes should reach EPC C by 2030, but the detail is still being confirmed [VERIFY AGAINST GOV.UK]. We only describe rules that have been confirmed, so check gov.uk before committing to works.