A practical guide to EPC duties when selling, letting or building a home, including validity, marketing and common exemptions. This guide is written for practical decision-making and links to the sources used for verification.
The main EPC trigger points
In England, an Energy Performance Certificate is normally required when a home is sold, rented out or newly built. The seller or landlord must commission the EPC before marketing begins and make it available to prospective buyers or tenants. An accredited domestic energy assessor visits the property, records its construction and services, and lodges the result on the official register.
An EPC gives the home a current and potential energy-efficiency rating from A to G, together with modelled energy use and improvement recommendations. It is a comparison and decision-support document; it is not a building survey, valuation or guarantee of actual energy bills.
- Selling a house or flat
- Starting to market a home for rent
- Completing a newly constructed dwelling
- Creating a new dwelling through certain conversions
Validity, marketing and existing certificates
A domestic EPC is generally valid for 10 years. Check the official register before ordering another assessment: a valid certificate can normally be reused during its validity period, even if the property changes hands or tenant. A newer EPC replaces an older one.
Marketing material should include the property’s energy-performance indicator where the regulations require it. The certificate must be supplied free of charge to the successful buyer or tenant. If substantial energy improvements have been completed since the last assessment, a fresh EPC may be commercially useful even where the existing certificate has not expired.
Exemptions need evidence, not assumptions
Some buildings may be exempt, including certain temporary buildings, places of worship, some protected buildings where compliance would unacceptably alter their character, and some detached buildings below 50 square metres. The exact tests matter, so do not rely on a casual description such as “listed” or “small”.
If the property is unusual, mixed-use or due for demolition, obtain property-specific advice before marketing. CertifyEPC can help clarify the assessment route, but legal responsibility remains with the seller, landlord or relevant 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.
