EPC when selling a home
You must order an EPC when selling your home, and it has to be done before the property goes up for sale. A certificate is valid for 10 years, so first check whether an old one exists.
- the length of time an EPC remains valid
- 10 years
- fixed penalty if you don't have one
- £200
- time allowed to get the EPC after listing
- 7 days
Do you always need an EPC when selling?
The EPC (Energy Performance Certificate) grades a home's energy use, from best, A, to worst, G. Order one for buyers before the property goes on the market, as GOV.UK says you must.
There may already be one in place. No matter how many times the home is sold during its 10 year life, the same valid EPC can serve each time.
Search for your address using the find an energy certificate service. A copy can be downloaded free, and you can then check the dates against how long an EPC lasts.
Getting an EPC for selling a house
The certificate can only be produced by an accredited assessor. This is a person who's part of a government approved accreditation scheme.
HomeOwners Alliance notes that your estate agent might offer to arrange it, though that can cost extra compared with booking direct. The seller usually pays.
You're able to book an EPC through an assessor near you. To see typical prices, check what an EPC costs.
Deadlines after your home goes on the market
Before your home is listed, your estate agent has to confirm the EPC has been ordered.
You should do all you can to get the EPC within 7 days, the government guide for sellers says. You have another 21 days if you still can't get it.
It has to reach buyers early. Show it at the first request for written details or the first viewing. A free copy must go to whoever buys the home.
Required content for your advert
Every advert needs the energy rating letter, such as C. That goes for websites, for newspapers and for the details your agent writes up.
The full certificate doesn't have to appear. Omit the letter and you risk a £200 fine for each advert.
Selling a house without an EPC
Your local council's Trading Standards teams enforce the rules. Market or sell with no valid EPC and they can hand you a £200 fixed penalty.
They can ask to see your certificate as well, and you then get 7 days to send it. Even once a failure is corrected, action remains possible for up to six months.
Ask the council to review the penalty if you believe it is wrong. Once that review is done, you get 28 days to take your appeal to the county court.
Homes where an EPC may not apply
GOV.UK names a few cases where an EPC isn't required. Homes that are for sale are mostly not in these groups.
- buildings meant to be temporary, with use lasting less than 2 years
- a detached building whose floor area is below 50 square metres
- some buildings scheduled to be knocked down
- homes planned to be in use for less than 4 months per year
- listed buildings, where meeting energy rules would harm what makes them special
Selling a home in Scotland
Scotland also requires you to put the EPC on display in the property. A place beside the boiler or the meter cupboard will do.
Approval from the Scottish Parliament is still needed, but new-style certificates are set to arrive on 30 April 2028. From that point, a valid EPC plus a property report will be needed at the time you advertise, and again when the sale completes. Find out more about EPCs in Scotland.
How reform will affect sellers
Right now, you have up to 28 days from the start of marketing to get the certificate. The government plans a change: a valid EPC would be needed at the point of marketing.
A certificate will still last 10 years, as it does now. You can find the new dates in EPC reform.
Common questions about EPC when selling
Is it possible to sell my house without an EPC?
Once the EPC is ordered, listing the home is allowed, but you have to obtain the certificate inside the permitted time. A fixed penalty of £200 can apply if you market or sell without one.
When selling a house, who pays for the EPC?
The seller usually pays. You can reuse a valid EPC that already exists and pay nothing.
When you sell, how long is an EPC valid?
An EPC runs for 10 years, unless a newer one is produced for the same home. Any sale within that period can use it again.
Will the buyer receive an EPC copy?
Yes. The person buying the home must receive a valid EPC from the seller at no cost.
After home improvements, is a new EPC required?
No, a valid EPC doesn't need replacing just because you've made improvements. If you expect a better rating before selling, you may still opt for a new one.