How to Check If a Property Already Has a Valid EPC
Most properties that have been sold or rented since 2008 already have an Energy Performance Certificate on the national register — and it may still be in date. Checking takes a minute and costs nothing.
Search the official GOV.UK registerEcoNestor does not operate the EPC register. Certificate searches are free and are carried out on the official government service.
Step one
Check the official EPC register
England, Wales and Northern Ireland
Use the government's Find an energy certificate service on GOV.UK. It holds every domestic and non-domestic certificate lodged for these three nations, it is free to search, and you can view and download the full certificate as a PDF once you find it.
Scotland
Scotland keeps its own records, so the GOV.UK service will not find a Scottish property. Search the Scottish EPC Register instead. Please note that EcoNestor's own EPC service does not cover Scotland — we work across Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and the surrounding areas.
What you'll need to search
Either the property postcode, or the certificate's reference number (usually a long numeric code shown on any previous EPC paperwork). Nothing else is required — you do not need to be the owner, and you do not need an account.
Searching by postcode
Enter the postcode and the service returns every property in it that has a certificate on record. Pick your address from the list. If your address is missing, check whether it might be listed differently — flats in particular are often recorded as "Flat 2, 14 High Street" rather than "14a High Street", and older records sometimes use a previous house name.
How to read your EPC result
Rating bands A to G
The certificate gives the property a numeric energy-efficiency score and converts that into a letter band. Most UK homes sit in band D. If you want to understand where band C sits and what it takes to reach it, read EPC rating C explained.
- A92+ points
- B81–91 points
- C69–80 points
- D55–68 points
- E39–54 points
- F21–38 points
- G1–20 points
Expiry date — the field that matters most
Every certificate shows the date it was lodged and the date it becomes invalid. If the expiry date is in the future, the certificate is still valid and can be used for a sale or a letting.
Working it out
Take the date the certificate was issued and add ten years. A certificate lodged on 4 March 2017 expires on 3 March 2027. The GOV.UK record states the expiry date directly, so there's no need to calculate it yourself — but it's worth knowing the rule if you're working from an old paper copy.
Recommended improvements
Every certificate includes a recommendations page listing the measures that would raise the score for that specific property, along with an indication of the potential rating. It's the most useful part of the document and the one most people never open.
For what a better rating is actually worth in running costs, sale price and mortgage options, see why improving your EPC pays.
How long does an EPC last?
An EPC is normally valid for ten years from the date it is lodged on the register. That validity runs with the property rather than the owner, so a certificate produced for a previous sale or tenancy can still be used by whoever owns the property now, provided it has not expired.
Because of that, the first thing to do is always to check. If a valid certificate already exists, there is no reason to pay for another assessment while it remains in date.
Energy-efficiency improvements do not by themselves invalidate an existing EPC. It normally remains valid for up to ten years, although a newer EPC produced for the same property replaces the older certificate. If you have added insulation, replaced the boiler, fitted a heat pump or upgraded the glazing, the old EPC stays valid for its full ten years — but it will still show the old rating. In that situation an owner may choose to obtain a new EPC so the certificate reflects the work that has been done. That is a commercial decision rather than a legal requirement.
What to do if no EPC is found
A blank result does not always mean the property has never had a certificate. Before assuming there isn't one, try these:
- Search a different address format. Flats, annexes and converted properties are frequently recorded under a different form of the address than the one you use for post.
- Search by certificate number. If you have paperwork from a previous sale or tenancy, the reference number on it will take you straight to the record.
- Check the right register. A Scottish property will never appear on the GOV.UK service.
- Consider the property's history. A home that has not been sold or let since 2008 may genuinely have no certificate on record yet.
If there is genuinely no valid EPC and you are preparing to sell or let, one should be commissioned before the property is marketed. The regulations recognise this isn't always instant: reasonable efforts to obtain the certificate are allowed within 7 days of marketing beginning, with a further 21 days where necessary.
When you need a new EPC
Selling a property
If no valid EPC already exists, an EPC must be commissioned before the property is marketed. Current regulations require reasonable efforts to obtain it within 7 days of marketing beginning, with a further 21 days where necessary. Check the register first — if a certificate from a previous sale is still in date, you can use it.
Letting a property
The same applies when a home is advertised to rent: if no valid EPC already exists, one must be commissioned before the property is marketed, with reasonable efforts to obtain it within 7 days of marketing beginning and a further 21 days where necessary. The certificate must also be given to the tenant. Under MEES, most private rented homes in England and Wales also need a rating of E or above unless a valid exemption is registered.
The existing certificate has expired
Once ten years have passed the certificate lapses. If you are selling or letting and there is no valid EPC, a new one should be commissioned before marketing begins.
You've made improvements and want them reflected
New insulation, a new boiler or heat pump, or new glazing will not change the old certificate. A fresh assessment is optional in this situation, but it is the only way to show the improved rating.
If you do need one
Book a domestic EPC with EcoNestor — £80
If you have checked the register and there is no valid certificate, we can carry out the assessment. EcoNestor is an accredited Domestic Energy Assessor working across Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and the surrounding areas.
Not sure whether we cover your address? See the areas we cover, or go straight to your town: Maidenhead, Slough or Windsor.
Frequently asked questions
How do I check if a property already has an EPC?
Search the official government register. For properties in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, use the GOV.UK 'Find an energy certificate' service and search by postcode or certificate number. For properties in Scotland, use the Scottish EPC Register. Both services are free to search and are operated by government, not by EcoNestor.
Is checking the EPC register free?
Yes. Searching the official register and viewing or downloading an existing certificate costs nothing. You never need to pay a third party to look up an EPC that already exists.
Can I check an EPC by postcode?
Yes. The GOV.UK service lets you enter a postcode and then pick the correct address from the list of properties that have a certificate on the register. If you already have the certificate reference number, searching by that number takes you straight to the right record.
How long does an EPC last?
An EPC is normally valid for ten years from the date it is lodged on the register. If a valid certificate already exists for the property, you do not need to pay for another assessment while it remains in date.
What happens if my EPC has expired?
An expired certificate can no longer be relied on when selling or letting. If there is no valid EPC in place, one should be commissioned before the property is marketed. The regulations recognise that this is not always instant, so reasonable efforts to obtain the certificate are allowed within 7 days of marketing beginning, with a further 21 days where necessary.
What if no EPC is found for my property?
It usually means one was never lodged, or the certificate is listed under a slightly different address format. Try searching a neighbouring address format, an earlier version of the address, or the certificate reference number if you have paperwork from a previous sale. If there is genuinely no record, and you are selling or letting, you will need a new assessment.
Do I need a new EPC if I've made energy-efficiency improvements?
Not as a legal requirement. An existing EPC stays valid for its full ten years even after improvements are made. Many owners choose to commission a new one anyway so the certificate reflects the current insulation, heating or glazing, which can matter when selling, letting or applying for a green mortgage product.
How do I check an EPC in Scotland?
Scotland has its own register. Use the Scottish EPC Register rather than the GOV.UK service. EcoNestor's own EPC service does not cover Scotland — we work across Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and the surrounding areas.