What is an EPC rating?

An Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) rates a property's energy efficiency on a scale from A (most efficient) to G (least efficient). It also shows estimated energy costs per year and recommends improvements. An EPC is legally required when selling, renting, or building a property in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland (Scotland has its own system).

How long does an EPC last?

An EPC is valid for 10 years from the date it was issued. You can use the same certificate for multiple sales or lettings during that period. After 10 years, you need a new assessment.

What EPC rating do I need to rent out a property?

Since April 2020, rental properties in England and Wales must have a minimum EPC rating of E. Properties rated F or G cannot legally be rented out unless an exemption applies. The government has proposed raising the minimum to C for new tenancies (originally from 2025, but this has been delayed and remains under review).

How much does an EPC cost?

An EPC assessment typically costs £60 to £120 depending on the size of the property and your location. The assessment takes 45 minutes to an hour and must be carried out by an accredited Domestic Energy Assessor.

EPC Rating Explained — What It Means for Your Home | PocketWise

An Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) rates how energy efficient your home is. It affects your energy bills, your property’s value, and whether you can legally rent it out.

The EPC Rating Scale

Rating	Band	Colour	Description
92–100	A	Dark green	Extremely efficient — typically new builds with heat pumps
81–91	B	Green	Very efficient — well-insulated, modern heating
69–80	C	Yellow-green	Good — above average efficiency
55–68	D	Yellow	Average — most UK homes fall here
39–54	E	Orange	Below average — older properties with some upgrades
21–38	F	Dark orange	Poor — limited insulation, older heating
1–20	G	Red	Very poor — uninsulated, inefficient throughout

The average UK home is rated D (score around 60–68).

What an EPC Certificate Shows

Section	What it tells you
Current energy efficiency rating	A to G band with numerical score
Potential energy efficiency rating	What you could achieve with recommended improvements
Estimated energy costs per year	Lighting, heating, and hot water costs broken down
Recommended improvements	Specific upgrades with estimated savings and costs
Environmental impact rating	CO2 emissions rating (A to G)
Property details	Floor area, construction type, heating system

When You Need an EPC

Situation	EPC required?
Selling a property	Yes — must be available to buyers before marketing
Renting out a property	Yes — must be minimum E rating (England and Wales)
Building a new property	Yes — based on design specifications
Living in your own home (not selling/letting)	No
Listed building exemptions	May be exempt if improvements would unacceptably alter the building
Scotland	Uses a separate Energy Performance Certificate system

Minimum EPC for Landlords

Requirement	Details
Current minimum	E rating (England and Wales since April 2020)
Applies to	All new and existing tenancies (private rented sector)
Penalty for non-compliance	Up to £5,000 per property
Proposed future minimum	C rating — delayed, no confirmed date yet
Exemptions	Where improvements would cost more than the cap (currently £3,500 inc. VAT), listed buildings, certain consent issues

How the Rating Is Calculated

The assessor examines:

Factor	Impact on rating
Wall insulation	High — cavity wall or solid wall insulation makes a major difference
Loft insulation	High — 270mm recommended depth
Double or triple glazing	Medium
Boiler efficiency and age	High — modern condensing boilers score much better
Heating controls	Medium — programmable thermostat, TRVs
Hot water system	Medium — cylinder insulation, solar thermal
Renewable energy	High — solar panels, heat pumps significantly improve ratings
Draught proofing	Low to medium
Floor insulation	Medium
Lighting	Low — LED bulbs help marginally

What Is NOT Considered

Not assessed	Notes
Smart meters	Do not affect your EPC rating
Appliances	Fridges, ovens, etc. are excluded
Electric car charging	Not part of the assessment
Property condition	Damp, structural issues are outside scope
Actual energy usage	The rating is based on the property, not how you use it

How to Improve Your EPC Rating

Improvement	Typical cost	Rating improvement	Payback time
Loft insulation (0 to 270mm)	£300–£600	5–10 points	2–3 years
Cavity wall insulation	£500–£1,500	5–15 points	3–5 years
Upgrade boiler to condensing	£2,000–£4,000	5–15 points	8–12 years
LED lighting throughout	£50–£200	1–3 points	Under 1 year
Double glazing	£4,000–£8,000	3–8 points	15–20 years
Solar panels (4kW)	£5,000–£8,000	5–15 points	10–15 years
Air source heat pump	£10,000–£18,000	10–20 points	12–18 years
Hot water cylinder insulation	£20–£50	1–3 points	Under 1 year
Draught proofing	£100–£300	1–3 points	1–2 years

The cheapest and most effective starting point is usually loft insulation, cavity wall insulation, and draught proofing.

Does EPC Rating Affect Property Value?

Rating	Impact on value
A or B	Can add 5–15% compared to G-rated equivalent
C	Increasingly expected by buyers — avoids future upgrade costs
D	Average — no premium or penalty
E or below	May reduce value, especially for buy-to-let investors who need minimum E
F or G	Significant negative impact — buyers factor in upgrade costs

Research from the Department for Energy Security suggests that improving from G to E can add several thousand pounds to a property’s value.

How to Get an EPC

Step	Details
Find an assessor	Search the EPC Register or use an accredited energy assessor
Book an appointment	Assessment typically takes 45–60 minutes on site
Assessment	Assessor inspects walls, loft, windows, heating, hot water
Certificate issued	Uploaded to the national EPC Register, usually within a few days
Cost	£60 to £120 typically
Validity	10 years

How to Find Your Existing EPC

You can check your current EPC for free at gov.uk/find-energy-certificate. Enter your postcode to see if you already have a valid certificate.

EPC in Scotland

Feature	England and Wales	Scotland
Certificate name	EPC	EPC (plus Energy Report for sales)
Minimum for rentals	E	E (from April 2022)
Home Report	Not required	Required for sales (includes EPC)
Register	England and Wales EPC Register	Scottish EPC Register

Common EPC Mistakes

Mistake	Why it matters
Not showing proof of insulation	If the assessor cannot see cavity fill or loft insulation, they assume the worst
Not having boiler service record	Some assessors may default to lower efficiency
Loft hatch inaccessible	Cannot verify loft insulation → lower assumed rating
Recent improvements not documented	Keep receipts and FENSA/HETAS certificates for windows, heating etc.

Tip: Before your assessment, gather documents showing any improvements — insulation certificates, boiler installation records, FENSA certificates for windows.

Related guides: