EPCs for rented homes · England and Wales
An EPC shows your rental home’s energy rating and suggests ways to improve it. Find out when you need one, what to have ready for the assessor and how to arrange a visit.
Arrange an EPC assessment
Ask what the assessment costs, what it includes and when you will receive the certificate.
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What is an EPC?
An Energy Performance Certificate rates a home’s energy efficiency from A to G and suggests improvements. It does not assess structural condition or safety, and it cannot tell you exactly what the energy bills will be.
A home’s EPC is generally valid for ten years. Check the address and expiry date. If you have made significant improvements, a new assessment can give a more up-to-date rating.
When do you need an EPC?
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
For homes covered by the minimum energy efficiency rules in England and Wales, the minimum rating is E unless you have registered a valid exemption. If your property is rated F or G, check what you need to do before letting it.
Higher standards have been proposed. Check the current GOV.UK guidance before planning work or starting a new tenancy.
Before the assessor visits
Arrange safe access for the accredited assessor. Have details of the boiler, windows, insulation, lighting and any renewable technology ready. Receipts or certificates are especially useful for work hidden inside walls or the roof: the assessor needs evidence to include it in the rating.
If the rating is F or G
- Read the recommendations and confirm that the input data is accurate.
- Use the official minimum energy standard guidance to see whether your property is covered.
- Get quotes for the improvements you need.
- The official guidance explains how much you may need to spend, how funding is counted and which evidence an exemption needs.
- Register any valid exemption before relying on it, and keep the supporting documents.
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
For a property in Scotland or Northern Ireland, start with our guidance by location. Their EPC and private-renting rules differ from those in England and Wales.