What is an EPC and when do you need one?

Published 6 March 2026

Table of contents

• What is an EPC?
• When do you need an EPC?
• What is an EPC used for and what does it show you?
• How to get an EPC certificate
• Improve your EPC rating with Xero
• FAQs on EPC certificates

Key takeaways

• An EPC is an energy performance certificate. It shows you the energy efficiency of a property with a lettered rating, and individual grades for specific property features. It also recommends ways you can improve energy performance and running costs.
• If you’re selling, renting, or building property, you need an EPC – it’s a legal requirement in building, purchasing, and rental systems (with some exceptions). The certificate lasts 10 years.
• To get an EPC, contact an accredited assessor and pay for it yourself. The certificate makes it easier to improve your property’s efficiency.

What is an EPC?

An energy performance certificate (EPC) shows you the energy efficiency of a property. It offers a lettered rating – A, B, C, and so on – based on the energy efficiency of the building. These certificates help businesses and individuals understand how much work is needed to make a property energy efficient, and how much it will cost to run the property each day. It’s useful information for decisions on whether to buy or live in a property.

If you’re a landlord or business owner, you’ll come across EPCs at some stage and will need to use them in your business. They’re a legal requirement when properties are built, sold, or rented. It’s a commercial EPC requirement for UK business owners if they rent or sell the premises, complete a building’s construction, or make major changes to the building that affect its energy performance, such as changes to fixed heating, air conditioning, or mechanical ventilation systems.

When do you need an EPC?

You need an EPC if you’re selling, renting, or building a property. You therefore need one if you’re a landlord putting a new rental property on the market, or a business owner selling a commercial building. An EPC lasts for 10 years, so if yours is out of date, you’ll need to order a new one before you market the property.

You don’t need an EPC for:

• temporary buildings used for less than 2 years
• listed buildings
• places of worship

Here’s information from the government on exemptions for other property types and for commercial property EPC ratings.

What is an EPC used for and what does it show you?

An EPC shows information about the property’s energy use and energy costs, and steps you can take to improve these things. With an energy performance certificate, UK property owners can make better decisions about what to improve on the building.

Energy efficiency ratings

The most energy-efficient properties are rated A, and the least efficient properties are rated G. Alongside the overall rating, you get a brief description and rating of the property’s features (like its roof, windows, heating, and lighting) from very good to very poor.

The kind of feature and description you can expect, is:

• Window (feature), fully double-glazed (description), average (rating)

Recommended actions

The EPC also recommends actions you can take to improve energy efficiency and reduce costs. For example, you could receive recommendations for internal or external wall insulation on an older property with solid brick walls. These recommendations are costed, with projected savings, and the expected EPC rating after you’ve made the changes.

In this way, an EPC certificate gives you a clear benchmark for the property, a roadmap for making improvements, and the likely effects on your finances, the building, and your future rating.

From 2030, private rented properties must meet grade C on their EPCs. This is an increase from the current requirement of an E rating.

How to get an EPC certificate

Search for a current or previous EPC certificate on the GOV.UK website to check whether the property has a valid EPC. If you need a new EPC certificate, find an accredited assessor on Gov.uk. The assessor will visit the property for assessment, and provide the certificate following their inspection.

What an EPC costs

EPC certificate costs vary depending on the size of the property and the individual assessor.

How long is an EPC valid for?

The EPC covers 10 years from the date it’s issued. If you’re a landlord and your property is exempt from an EPC, this exemption generally lasts 5 years. But, it’s worth consulting government guidance on landlord EPC requirements to make sure you’re compliant. You must get a new EPC before renting or selling the property if yours has expired.

Improve your EPC rating with Xero

With Xero accounting software, it’s easier to prepare for the financial effects of improving your EPC ratings. Keep your income and expenditure records in Xero, then use the data to generate cash flow forecasts, balance sheets, and other reports so you can make smart, informed decisions on improving EPC ratings on your properties.

And Xero’s smart automation features – like automatic bank feeds and reconciliation predictions – speed up regular accounting tasks and give you more time for your business. You can also file tax returns directly from Xero, using your Xero records, so more of your accounting tasks are covered in one piece of software. It’s a smooth, efficient way to deal with your business finances.

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FAQs on EPC certificates

Do I legally need an EPC to sell or rent?

Yes, it’s a legal requirement. There are some cases where buildings don’t need an EPC – check the government criteria on when an EPC isn’t needed to see if they apply to your property.

How fast can I get an EPC?

This depends on the individual assessor. Ask them for an estimate.

Who pays for the EPC?

If you’re a landlord or business owner, it’s your responsibility to pay for an EPC.

Do listed buildings need an EPC?

No – not if making changes to bring the property in line with minimum energy standards would fundamentally change its appearance or character.