A practical EPC checklist for executors preparing an inherited home for sale, from checking the register to arranging access before marketing. This guide is written for practical decision-making and links to the sources used for verification.
Start with the transaction, not the probate label
Clearing a relative's house can feel like a different kind of property sale. For EPC purposes, the useful question is simpler: is the dwelling about to be marketed for sale? Government guidance says an existing home normally needs an Energy Performance Certificate when it is sold, and a valid EPC must be in place or commissioned before marketing. Being an inherited property is not, by itself, an EPC exemption.
An executor should coordinate the sale timetable and authority to act with the estate's solicitor or agent. That legal work is separate from the energy assessment. Do not wait until photographs are taken and the listing is ready to discover that the certificate has expired.
Check for a usable certificate before paying for another
Search the official EPC register using the full address. A domestic EPC is generally valid for ten years and can normally be reused during that period, even after ownership changes. Check that the certificate actually describes the house being sold, not a neighbouring address, an old flat within it or another building on the plot.
If a valid certificate exists, share its link with the estate agent. If the home has been substantially altered since it was assessed, a new EPC may better reflect it, but the assessor must record verifiable facts rather than expected improvements. If no suitable certificate can be found, arrange one before marketing begins.
- Search by the property's full address on the government register
- Confirm the certificate has not expired or been superseded
- Check that the assessment boundary matches the home being sold
Make the visit easy, even when the house is empty
The assessor may need access to the heating system, windows, loft hatch and every relevant room. Empty properties can be harder to assess when utilities are off, lofts are inaccessible or keys are held by several people. Give the booking contact a working number, key-holder details and any alarm or parking instructions.
Collect any reliable evidence of insulation, replacement glazing or heating upgrades before the visit. The assessor decides what the approved methodology allows them to record. An EPC is not a probate valuation or a survey of defects; it is a standardised energy-performance assessment.
A calmer route to marketing
First check the register, then agree who can grant access and arrange a new assessment only if it is needed. CertifyEPC can arrange a domestic EPC at a London address and provide the lodged digital certificate for your sales file. Tell us if the home is vacant or access must be coordinated through an agent.
Research and verification
Authoritative sources
Use these primary and specialist sources to check the current rule and read further.
Requirements can change and unusual properties may need specialist advice. Check the latest official source and the facts of the property before relying on a compliance conclusion.
