England and Wales guidance
Arrange an Energy Performance Certificate and check the current energy standard before marketing or continuing to let a covered property.
Arrange an EPC assessment
Confirm the property location, assessment scope, total price and certificate delivery time with the provider.
What an EPC does
An Energy Performance Certificate records a property’s assessed energy efficiency on an A-to-G scale and lists potential improvements. It is an energy assessment, not a structural survey, safety inspection or guarantee of actual energy bills.
A domestic EPC is generally valid for ten years, but check that the certificate belongs to the exact property and remains current. A new assessment after significant improvements can help the rating reflect the home as it now stands.
When a landlord normally needs one
In England and Wales, a valid EPC is normally required before a covered home is marketed for rent, and the rating must appear in the advert. Give the certificate to a prospective or incoming tenant as required. Exemptions exist for some buildings and transactions, so use the official guidance where the status is uncertain.
The current minimum energy standard
At the review date, covered domestic private rented property in England and Wales must generally have an EPC rating of E or above, or a valid exemption must be registered. A property rated F or G cannot simply be let on the assumption that a future improvement target has not yet arrived.
Government has stated a longer-term direction towards higher standards, but proposals and policy aims are not the same as a rule in force. Check the live GOV.UK guidance before planning work or a new tenancy.
Prepare for the assessment
Give the accredited assessor safe access to the relevant parts of the property. Gather evidence for insulation, glazing, heating controls, boiler, low-energy lighting and renewable technology, particularly where an improvement is not easy to see. Without reliable evidence, the methodology may use a default assumption.
If the rating is F or G
- Read the recommendations and confirm that the input data is accurate.
- Check which properties and tenancies the domestic MEES rules cover.
- Obtain appropriate quotations for relevant measures.
- Check the current spending cap, funding treatment and exemption evidence in official guidance.
- Register a valid exemption before relying on it and retain the evidence.
Official sources
- GOV.UK: get a new energy certificate
- GOV.UK: find an existing certificate
- GOV.UK: domestic private rented property MEES guidance
- Register or manage a PRS exemption
Scotland and Northern Ireland have their own EPC and private-renting frameworks. Check the relevant national guidance rather than relying on the England and Wales MEES summary above.