How to get an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) rating

You need an EPC, or Energy Performance Certificate, if you’re selling or renting a house. Find out more about what’s involved and how to get one.

 

How to check your EPC rating

Before you get an EPC, find out if the property already has one. Certificates are valid for 10 years unless you’ve made home improvements in that time as your rating may have changed.

In England & Wales find an energy certificate on GOV.UK.

In Scotland find an energy certificate on the Scottish EPC Register.

What information is on an EPC?


The appearance of an EPC can vary depending on when it was completed and the country that issued the EPC. The sections and information covered should be the same though.
 

Ratings

Energy Performance Certificates show how energy efficient a house is. An assessor will come and inspect your home then give it a score out of 100. Scores are grouped to give an overall rating of A to G. A being the most energy efficient. You’ll also get a rating of your home’s potential if changes are made.

Energy performance

The EPC will also give a summary of the property’s features. Such as its construction, heating system, windows and lighting.

Improvements

To reach the potential rating, the EPC will include details on how your home can be improved.

  

New build properties

New builds don’t have EPC ratings if they are sold ‘off-plan’. Instead, the builder or developer may have arranged for a Predicted Energy Assessment (PEA) instead. Once the house is built, they can arrange for an EPC assessment. New builds tend to be built to a high energy efficiency standard. So are likely to have a higher EPC rating.

Are EPC ratings needed to apply for a mortgage?


Including the energy efficiency of your property in our affordability assessments allows us to better work out how much you can borrow based on your circumstances.

We can better reflect the impact of home energy costs, and some of the financial benefits of more energy-efficient homes. You might then receive a higher loan amount if the EPC is an A or B rating. Or you might receive a slightly lower loan amount if the rating is F or G. 

This is because for houses with a lower EPC rating your energy bills are likely to be higher and so your outgoings will be higher. This will impact the size of the loan you can afford to repay.  

Getting an Energy Performance Certificate

How to book an assessment

Assessments are done by an accredited energy assessor. You can book for someone to come out to your property through the government website to get an energy certificate.
 

Book an assessment on GOV.UK

How long does an assessment take?

This will depend on how large your property is, but it usually takes less than an hour. Once the assessment has been completed, it can take a few days for the EPC to show on the government database.

Find your energy certificate on GOV.UK

How much does an EPC cost?

The cost of an EPC will vary by assessor, as well as the size, type and location of the property. As a guide, you can expect to pay between £60 and £120.

Eco home offers​

We like to reward our customers for making more sustainable choices when it comes to their homes. Whether you’re buying an energy-efficient home, or making energy-efficient home improvements, we could have an offer for you.​

See our eco home offers

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How to improve your rating

Read our quick guide on improvements you can make to your home.

Improve your EPC rating

Paying for energy-efficient home improvements

Learn how we could help you put your plans into action.

Funding home improvements

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Find out more about our eco home offers, tips and tools to start saving energy. And learn how the accredited installers we’ve teamed up with could help.

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