Term
EPC: what the term means
A certificate rating a property's energy efficiency from A to G, required when selling, renting out or building a home.
A certificate rating a property's energy efficiency from A to G, required when selling, renting out or building a home.
EPC in practice
An EPC gives a property an energy efficiency rating from A, the best, to G, the worst, together with information about energy use, typical costs and recommended improvements. It is produced by an accredited assessor and is valid for 10 years. You must have one before marketing a property for sale or rent, and when building a new home.
The rating has legal and financial consequences. Private landlords in England and Wales generally cannot let a property rated below E without a registered exemption, and several grant schemes use the rating to decide eligibility. Existing certificates can be looked up on the government's register.