EPC register: find an EPC certificate
The official record of EPC energy certificates for England and Wales covers homes and other buildings, and it is called the EPC register. Any certificate can be found by postcode, and you can download it free.
Search the official register by postcodeThis link opens the free GOV.UK service, which covers England, Wales and Northern Ireland.
- to see a certificate or save a copy
- Free
- runs the register for England, Wales and Northern Ireland
- GOV.UK
- how long each certificate is valid
- 10 years
EPC register England and Wales: what it holds
An EPC (Energy Performance Certificate) gives a building a rating from A to G based on energy use. One can be added by an approved energy assessor only. Before it counts, its data must be lodged with a report reference number.
Records are kept for 20 years, which means one home can hold several certificates. The valid one is always the newest. These records, which date back to 2008, cover business and public buildings as well.
A certificate is good for 10 years. To work out its end date, see how long does an EPC last.
EPC certificate lookup: search by postcode, address or number
Searching happens through a government service called Find an energy certificate. You do not pay for an EPC certificate lookup.
- Choose the type of property after you open the service.
- Enter the full postcode, or give the street name and town.
- To open a certificate, select your address from the list.
- Enter the certificate number instead, if you have it, and you'll go straight to it.
No postcode? You can still search by street and town using an EPC address search. Every postcode for that street appears, so check the house number with care.
Downloading the certificate
After the certificate opens, viewing, printing and saving a copy are all open to you. It's free to download, and you don't need to ask the assessor.
A digital copy is what the assessor gives you after a new assessment. A seller, landlord or letting agent has to show the certificate to anyone who is buying or renting. When is one required? Find out on do I need an EPC.
EPC register check: is a certificate genuine?
A genuine certificate is one made from data on the official record. Any paper copy can be checked against the online version to make sure the two match.
Check the letter, and the issue date too. Once a copy passes 10 years, it has expired, and a newer certificate for that address takes its place.
The same site shows whether an assessor is part of an approved accreditation scheme. That's useful to know before you book an EPC.
Leaving the public register
If you own or occupy a building in England or Wales, you can ask for its certificate to be hidden from public search. Email the government helpdesk and you can opt out at any time.
Within 2 weeks, the certificate is removed from public view. Future bulk data releases, which appear 2 to 4 times a year, also leave it out.
An opt-out can be undone in the same way. You cannot hide Display Energy Certificates issued for public buildings.
Registers by UK nation: which one applies
Where the building is located determines the rules and the search.
- One register covers England and Wales, and you search it through GOV.UK. Go to EPCs in Wales for Welsh homes.
- In Scotland there is a separate register with different rules. Searching it takes a postcode or a report reference number. See EPCs in Scotland.
- The rules in Northern Ireland differ, but its certificates still show up in the GOV.UK search. EPCs in Northern Ireland explains more.
Common questions about EPC register
How do I find EPC certificate information for my house?
Use your postcode in the government service and choose your address. The certificate shows up on screen, so you can print it or save a copy.
Why is it that I can't find my EPC?
A certificate might never have existed for the home, or the owner may have taken it out of public view. Search by street and town first. If nothing comes up, an accredited assessor will need to issue a new one.
Before I buy, how do I run an EPC certificate check?
Compare the letter and issue date on the copy you were given with what you find for the address. The buyer is owed a valid certificate by the seller, and it costs nothing.
Does the EPC search cost anything?
Yes. Nothing is charged for looking up, viewing or downloading a certificate.
Will a Scottish home appear in the GOV.UK search?
No. A separate register holds certificates for buildings in Scotland, with a search page of its own.