EPC questions, answered.

An EPC rates how energy efficient a home is on a scale from A (most efficient) to G (least efficient). It shows the home's current rating, the rating it could reach, estimated energy costs and a list of recommended improvements. EPCs are produced by accredited assessors and stored on the government's national register.

An EPC is valid for 10 years. You can get a new one sooner, for example after installing insulation or a new boiler, and the newest certificate replaces the old one as the one people see.

Search by postcode on the GOV.UK Find an energy certificate service. If your certificate is less than 10 years old and still reflects the home, you may not need a new one.

The rating is based on a score. Band A is 92 or more, B is 81 to 91, C is 69 to 80, D is 55 to 68, E is 39 to 54, F is 21 to 38 and G is 1 to 20. The higher the score, the lower the expected running costs.

Yes. In England and Wales you need a valid EPC before you put a home on the market, and your estate agent will ask for it before marketing starts. Buyers must be able to see it. Trading Standards can issue fines for marketing a home without one.

The rating appears on property listings, so buyers see it alongside the price. A good rating signals lower running costs, and the recommendations show buyers what could be improved. An accurate assessment makes sure your home gets the credit it deserves.

In England and Wales, a privately rented home currently needs an EPC rating of E or above, unless a valid exemption is registered. The government has proposed raising the minimum to C. Read our guide for landlords for details.

Not unless a valid exemption is registered on the PRS Exemptions Register. Otherwise you need to make improvements to reach at least E before you let it. Local authorities can issue penalties for breaches.

Yes. A landlord must give tenants a copy of a valid EPC at the start of a tenancy, free of charge.

Usually 30 to 60 minutes on site, depending on the size of the home. The assessor needs access to every room, the loft if there is one, the boiler and heating controls, and the windows.

Have paperwork ready for any work that isn't visible, such as cavity wall or floor insulation, window installation certificates, boiler commissioning records and solar panel documents. Without evidence, some improvements can't be credited. See how to improve your rating.

The assessor records what they can see and prove, such as wall construction, insulation depth, heating system and glazing. If something is missed or recorded wrongly, the rating changes. That is why experience matters.

A domestic EPC from Home Survey costs a fixed £75 per property. That includes the visit, lodging the certificate on the national register and the recommendations report.

Yes. Landlords, letting agents and housing providers can book a whole portfolio with one point of contact. Get in touch for portfolio pricing.

Home Survey is a trading name of My Home Survey Ltd. Our main site, home-surveyors.com, covers our work for local authorities and housing providers, including PAS 2035 retrofit coordination and air tightness testing.

One of our accredited domestic energy assessors. The team is led by Carl Harvey, who was one of the first people in the country to qualify when EPCs were introduced.

We cover homes within 30 miles of Bourne, Lincolnshire (PE10). That includes Bourne, Stamford, Market Deeping and the surrounding villages. See areas we cover.

If your home is within 30 miles of Bourne, almost certainly yes. Not sure? Call 07979 601815 or send your postcode through the booking form and we'll confirm.

Being listed or in a conservation area doesn't automatically make a home exempt. An exemption only applies in limited circumstances, and many period homes still need an EPC to be sold or let. If you're unsure, call us and we'll talk it through.