main content Energy Performance Certificates

From 1st October 2008 an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) will be required whenever a building is built, sold or rented out. The certificate provides an 'A' to 'G' rating for the building, with 'A' being the most energy efficient and 'G' being the least.

An EPC is only required for a property which is self-contained. It is not required when a tenant rents a room and shares facilities, where a tenant has a separate contract with the landlord.

The EPC provides prospective tenants with information about how energy efficient a property is that they are considering renting.

The EPC must be made available free of charge to prospective tenants at the earliest opportunity. This should be when they are first given written information about the property or view it, and before any rental contract is entered into.

EPCs are valid for 10 years and can be reused as many times as required within that period. It is not necessary to commission a new EPC each time there is a change of tenant although landlords may commission EPCs for these properties at any time to prepare for a change in tenant.

An EPC is not required for any property that was rented out before 1 October 2008 and which continues to be occupied after that date by the same tenant.

A list of people that are qualified to carry out Energy Performance Certificate assessments is available here.