EPC (Energy Performance Certificate) is a certificate that shows a building’s energy performance. The results of an EPC are based on an energy assessment which gives information about a property’s energy use and typical energy costs.
EPCs help potential buyers or tenants understand the energy efficiency of a property and compare the running costs of similar properties. The certificate is valid for 10 years and is required by law when selling or renting a property.
Certification is usually produced by an accredited assessor who carries out an on-site visit to collect information about the property. The assessor then uses this information to produce an EPC report. EPCs are graded from A (very efficient) to G (inefficient). The higher the grade, the more energy-efficient the property is likely to be, and the lower the running costs.
New stricter government regulations requiring all rental properties to receive a ‘C’ EPC rating will be introduced for any new tenants in 2025 and will then be extended to all tenants in 2028.
