Book Your Energy Performance Certificate from £34

EPC Certificate

An Energy Performance Certificate, or EPC, is a legal requirement for any property being sold or rented in the UK. Without a valid EPC, you cannot legally market your property — and you risk fines of up to £500 for residential and £5,000 for commercial properties.

An EPC rates your property's energy efficiency on a scale from A (most efficient) to G (least efficient), and shows your estimated annual energy costs. Rental properties must achieve a minimum rating of E under current MEES legislation — or you cannot let them out.

At MyConstructor, you can book an EPC from just £34 with an accredited assessor near you. We offer same-day bookings nationwide, with over 25,000 verified reviews from landlords and homeowners across the UK.

Wondering about EPC certificate cost for your property size or location? Use our instant quote tool above — prices vary by bedrooms and area, and we'll show you the exact cost in seconds.

Essential Elements of an EPC

When reviewing an Energy Performance Certificate, it's useful to know what to expect. While older certificates may look slightly different, all valid EPCs must include the following:

• The property's current energy use and CO₂ emissions, rated from A (most efficient) to G (least efficient)
• Details of the accredited EPC assessor, including the inspection date and certificate issue date
• An overview of the property's energy-related features (heating, insulation, glazing etc.)
• A unique certificate number, found at the top of the document
• The certificate's expiry date (valid for 10 years)
• Recommended improvements to increase the property's energy efficiency rating

The Overall Rating

This example shows a property with a C rating, valid for ten years. The certificate displays both the current rating and the potential rating achievable with improvements.

Current and Potential Energy Rating

The rating scale runs from A to G — the higher the rating, the lower your energy bills. An EPC rating of C indicates average energy efficiency; improvements to insulation, heating, or glazing can push this higher.

Note: The average energy rating for properties in England and Wales is D, with an average energy score of 60.

Learn more in our guide: How is an EPC calculated?

EPC for Property Energy Breakdown

Your EPC also includes a detailed breakdown of each inspected feature — rated as Very Good, Good, Average, Poor or Very Poor. Where a feature couldn't be inspected, an Assumed rating is applied based on the property's age and type.

This section also calculates the property's primary energy usage — the total energy required for lighting, heating, and hot water.

Environmental Impact & Improvements

The environmental impact rating estimates the property's CO₂ emissions based on its energy use — reflecting the building itself, not the habits of its occupants.

Your EPC will include step-by-step improvement recommendations, each with an estimated implementation cost and projected savings on energy bills. Your assessor's contact details are also included for any follow-up questions.

Already have an EPC? Find your certificate on the EPC Register by postcode — free and instant.

What Happens if You Don't Have a Valid EPC?

In England and Wales, failing to comply with EPC requirements when selling or renting a property can result in a penalty charge. For a dwelling (residential property), the penalty for specified EPC breaches is £200. For a non-dwelling, the penalty is generally 12.5% of the rateable value, subject to a minimum of £500 and a maximum of £5,000.

In England and Wales, if no valid EPC is available, an EPC must be commissioned before the property is marketed for sale or rent. The certificate does not have to be available on the first day of marketing, but reasonable efforts must then be made to obtain it within the required timeframe.

The good news? Booking an accredited EPC assessor takes less than 60 seconds — and certificates start from just £34. Don't risk the fine.

How Much Does an EPC Cost?

You can find a variety of prices when you search for an EPC certificate online. Get your EPC assessment for just £34-book now with MyConstructor.

As it is reasonable, EPC Certificate cost may vary. The most common variables that affect the pricing are:

• The area you live in.
• What kind of property you live in?
• How many bedrooms does your property have?
• What is the type of construction of the building you live in?

EPC pricing varies based on property size:

• Studio: From £34
• 1-bedroom From £43
• 2-bedroom: From £43
• 3-bedroom: From £44

UK Energy Performance Certificate Pricing Overview

As you can understand, an EPC certificate cost is completely affordable and it can raise significantly the value of your property. Thus, doing research about the EPC online is totally worth your time.

Failing an EPC?

If you are looking to sell a property, you still need to meet the applicable Energy Performance Certificate requirements. For privately rented properties in England and Wales that fall within the current MEES regulations, a minimum EPC rating of E generally applies unless a valid exemption is in place. If a relevant rented property is rated below E, the landlord may need to make energy efficiency improvements or register a valid exemption before continuing to let it.

Your EPC Rating Explained

Your EPC certificate grades your property's energy efficiency on a scale from A to G — A being the most efficient, G the least. The higher your rating, the lower your energy bills. The current average for UK homes is D to E.

Important: In England and Wales, a privately rented property covered by the current MEES regulations generally cannot be let or continue to be let with an EPC rating below E, unless a valid exemption applies. A low rating can also negatively affect your property's market value and saleability — making an EPC assessment a worthwhile investment before going to market.

Minimum Energy Efficiency Standards (MEES)

Since April 2018, Minimum Energy Efficiency Standards (MEES) have applied to relevant privately rented properties in England and Wales, setting a minimum EPC rating of E for properties within scope, unless a valid exemption applies. From 1 April 2020, the requirement applied to all relevant domestic private rented properties, including existing tenancies. From 1 April 2023, it applied to all relevant non-domestic private rented properties, even where there had been no change in tenancy.

Upcoming changes from 2030: The UK Government has confirmed plans for a higher minimum energy efficiency standard for privately rented homes in England and Wales from 1 October 2030. The planned standard will use reformed EPC metrics, with qualifying properties expected to meet the higher standard unless a transitional provision or valid exemption applies.

Until the higher standard takes effect, landlords of properties covered by the current MEES rules must continue to comply with the existing minimum EPC E standard. The Government has also confirmed a planned maximum landlord investment requirement of £10,000 per property under the future regime.

MEES Exemptions — When Do They Not Apply?

MEES applies only to privately rented properties in England and Wales that fall within the scope of the regulations. Some properties fall outside the regulations, while others may qualify for a registered exemption.

• Buildings not legally required to have an EPC

  This can include certain officially protected buildings where meeting minimum energy performance requirements would unacceptably alter their character or appearance, places of worship, temporary buildings with a planned use of two years or less, certain limited-use residential buildings, and stand-alone buildings with a total useful floor area of less than 50m².

• Short or very long-term non-domestic lets

  For non-domestic properties, MEES generally does not apply to a tenancy granted for a term certain of no more than 6 months, subject to specific exceptions, or for a term certain of 99 years or more.

• Domestic property cost cap

  For domestic properties, a high-cost exemption may apply if even the cheapest recommended energy efficiency improvement would cost more than £3,500 including VAT. If improvements costing within the applicable cap have been made but the property still remains below EPC E, an “all improvements made” exemption may apply.

• Non-domestic 7-year payback test

  For non-domestic properties, an exemption may apply where a recommended energy efficiency measure does not meet the prescribed 7-year payback test.

• Devaluation

  If an independent RICS-registered valuer confirms that installing the relevant energy efficiency improvements would reduce the market value of the property, or the building it forms part of, by more than 5%, a devaluation exemption may apply.

• Third-party consent refused

  If a relevant energy efficiency improvement requires consent from a tenant, superior landlord, mortgagee, freeholder, planning authority or another relevant third party, and consent cannot be obtained despite reasonable efforts — or is granted subject to conditions the landlord cannot reasonably meet — a consent exemption may be registered.

• Properties outside the relevant domestic tenancy rules

  For domestic properties, the MEES regulations apply where the property is let on a qualifying tenancy type, including an assured tenancy, regulated tenancy or domestic agricultural tenancy. If the property is not let under a qualifying tenancy, it falls outside the domestic MEES scope rather than requiring a registered exemption.

• Social housing

  The private rented sector MEES rules described here do not apply to social housing, which is subject to a separate regulatory framework.

Your legal obligations

In England and Wales, an EPC is required for relevant buildings when they are sold or rented, subject to statutory exemptions. If no valid EPC is available, one must be commissioned before the property is marketed.

A valid EPC must be made available free of charge to prospective buyers or tenants at the required stage and given free of charge to the person who ultimately buys or rents the property.

Where a valid EPC is available, the building's energy rating must be shown in advertisements for the sale or rental in commercial media. There is no requirement to include the full EPC in the advertisement.

For newly constructed buildings, an EPC must also be produced by an appropriately accredited energy assessor.

How do I know if I already have an EPC Certificate

It's really simple to find out if you already have an EPC online. For properties in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, you can search the government energy certificate service by postcode, street name and town, or certificate number. Scotland has a separate Scottish EPC Register. As an EPC is normally valid for 10 years, a valid certificate may already exist from a previous sale, rental or assessment.

England, Wales & Northern Ireland EPC Register

Scottish EPC Register

Obtain an energy certificate

To get an Energy Performance Certificate, you will need to hire a professional energy assessor who will inspect the building and conduct an energy assessment of the property.

During the inspection, the energy assessor will have to examine the heating installation in the building as well as other important areas. He might need to take photos and measurements, if necessary.

After the inspection process is complete, the data collected by the assessor during the inspection will be used to draft the Energy Performance Certificate.

Once the survey is finished, the data is uploaded into a software program which then calculates both the current level of energy efficiency and also the potential efficiency rating.

Improve your building’s energy efficiency

After the EPC assessor is done with the inspection of your property he will issue a valid EPC certificate. The energy performance certificate will give a detailed breakdown of the energy efficiency of the building using a grading system of A to G.

If your building is given a poor rating it means that such a building is not energy efficient. In most circumstances, properties given poor ratings will be required to make improvements on the premises to improve the energy efficiency of the building. These improvements are often recommended in the energy performance certificate.

These improvements require funds and some of them are expensive and can take a toll on your finances. Although, if you think proactively and carry out an EPC inspection before it's too late, you can save yourself from great costs.

Before booking your EPC Certificate inspection, there are a number of ways you can improve the energy performance of your home. Some of them are as follows:

• Insulate your home to reduce heat loss. This could include loft insulation, cavity wall insulation, or solid wall insulation.
• Install double glazing or secondary glazing to reduce heat loss through windows.
• Draught-proof doors and windows to reduce heat loss and cold draughts.
• Install low-energy light bulbs.
• Use a thermostat to control your central heating and only heat your home when you need to.
• Close doors to rooms that are not being used.
• Consider installing renewable energy technologies such as solar panels or wind turbines. These can help to reduce your energy bills and your carbon footprint.

Duration of the appointment

An Energy Performance Certificate survey survey takes on average anywhere from twenty minutes, for a studio apartment, to an hour for larger family homes. The main determining factor is the size of the property but the layout of the property is also a factor. Commercial, or Non-Domestic surveys can take considerably longer with some large commercial buildings taking a full day or even longer.

Find out how to obtain an Energy Performance Certificate in our guide, "How to get an EPC".

EPCs for landlords or homeowners

In England and Wales, if no valid Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) is available, one must be commissioned before the property is marketed for sale or rent. A valid EPC must be made available free of charge to prospective buyers or tenants at the required stage and given free of charge to the person who ultimately buys or rents the property.

You can obtain an EPC certificate by contacting an accredited EPC assessor. The assessor will visit your property and carry out an inspection in order to produce the certificate and let you know about further improvements that can be done to improve your property's energy efficiency.

*Note: The report is simply a commentary on the current energy efficiency and the future potential. It should not be used as a condition report on either the building structure or any of the internal systems on the property.

Step-by-Step process of an EPC

Step 1: Determine if you are eligible for an EPC Certificate.

Ensure that you require an EPC certificate before applying. Obtaining the certificate isn't mandatory for all properties, but they can still give you valuable advice and peace of mind.

Step 2: Find EPC Assessors

A qualified energy assessor is required to establish the property's energy efficiency. For the EPC to work and be valid, you need a competent person. Otherwise, it won't be valid.

Step 3: Obtain an EPC Price Quote

EPC certificate costs might vary, so seek an estimate first. In the assessment market, there are a variety of pricing options. With a little research on our platform, you may locate a price range that fits your budget.

Step 4: Make an Appointment with the EPC Assessor

In order to participate in the evaluation, you must arrange a time to meet. It's imperative that the owner be present when the assessor does the tests. So that you can answer any inquiries, you need to show the assessor around the property.

Step 5: Wait for the EPC Certificate

It will take a while for the findings of the assessment to be sent so that you may take appropriate action. Some businesses may provide you with an EPC in as little as twenty-four hours, according to the website.

The certificate will be sent to you through email.

Step 6: Find the EPC certificate Online

The EPC Certificate is also available on the EPC Register website. The EPC website can address any of your questions and concerns. A copy of the certificate may be obtained by searching for the report reference number or the dwelling address.

Finding An EPC Near Me

When it comes to property services, we all want the best result possible! Needless to say, all property inspections deserve a thorough job well done by professionals. Your loved ones may be more than willing to suggest some professionals to you, but what if you are new to an area? At this point I bet you are wondering; So, how can I find an EPC Certificate near me? Well, look no further!

Need a local EPC assessor? Our platform makes it easy to compare professionals, read reviews, and find the best fit for your needs.

• What do you expect from your EPC Certificate near me service? If you are expecting a professional standard inspection, it's worth looking for verified professionals with experience. Write down your needs and take your time during research in order to choose professionals that suit your needs.
• Communicate proactively! Once you find the professional of your preference for your EPC certificate near me service, you need to know your needs and exactly what you want to be done. Do not hesitate to inform the experts and let them know your requirements! This is the only way to get the best services possible!
• Do research! When it comes to hiring, we all want the best ones for the job. Trustworthy and certified professionals for your EPC certificate near me will ensure that you will get the best inspection of your property.