Do I need an EPC?

If you’re selling or letting a property, it is a legal requirement for that building to have a valid EPC. An EPC is an Energy Performance Certificate. It contains information about the property’s energy use and typical energy costs. Do bear in mind that it’s based on assumptions about average occupancy and energy use so may not reflect how energy is consumed by the people living there. 

This assessment needs to be carried out by an accredited assessor and your certificate will be valid for 10 years. If you’re selling or letting through us, we can arrange the EPC for you. You must order one before the property goes on the market.

The EPC will give your property an energy efficiency rating, graded from A (most efficient) to G (least efficient) and a score. The higher the number, the lower your fuel bills should be. Included in the certificate will be recommendations on how to reduce energy use and ways to save money. Those recommendations will show what the energy rating could be if you did carry them out.

For example, it might grade your lighting as very poor (in terms of energy efficiency) and then suggest you install low energy lighting. It will show you a typical installation cost and typical yearly saving.  

If you’re considering renting out a property, that energy rating has to be between A and E. If it’s lower than that, the recommendations will need to be carried out to bring it within the necessary rating. 

Want to see if you have a current EPC? Find out here.