Free tool
EPC rating checker
Check any property's EPC rating, then see what gov.uk does not show: the gap to C, the likely cheapest works and cost, and whether the certificate is valid for letting and for landlord database registration.
What an EPC rating means
An Energy Performance Certificate rates how energy efficient a home is, from A, the most efficient, to G, the least. The letter comes from a score, the SAP energy efficiency rating, which an accredited assessor works out from the walls, roof, windows, heating and hot water. The higher the score, the lower the expected running costs.
Every certificate shows two ratings. The current rating is the home as it is today. The potential rating is what it could reach if the recommended improvements were made. The recommendations come with indicative costs, and where the register has them this checker uses them to find the cheapest route to C for that property. Where it does not, we use typical UK ranges and say so.
EPC bands and scores
| Band | SAP score | What it means for a landlord |
|---|---|---|
| A | 92 and above | Meets the 2030 target (policy) |
| B | 81 to 91 | Meets the 2030 target (policy) |
| C | 69 to 80 | Meets the 2030 target (policy) |
| D | 55 to 68 | Lettable today. Needs work to reach C by 2030 (policy) |
| E | 39 to 54 | Lettable today. Needs work to reach C by 2030 (policy) |
| F | 21 to 38 | Below today's minimum of E. Cannot be let without a registered exemption |
| G | 1 to 20 | Below today's minimum of E. Cannot be let without a registered exemption |
Bands for the current Energy Efficiency Rating. Standard Assessment Procedure, gov.uk.
How long an EPC lasts, and when you need one
An EPC is valid for 10 years from the day it is lodged. You need a valid certificate when you market a property to let, and you must give a copy to new tenants. Under current rules, a certificate that expires part way through a tenancy does not need replacing until you next let or market the property.
The landlord database changes the practical picture. From 15 Dec 2026, region by region, every rental must be registered with its EPC, gas safety record and electrical report. A certificate that runs out just before your window closes means paying for a new one in a hurry, so this checker compares the expiry date with your region's window.
What this checker adds to gov.uk
The government's Find an energy certificate service shows the certificate itself, and it is the official record. This checker reads the same register and adds what a landlord needs next: the points needed to reach C, the likely cheapest works and their cost against the £10,000 cap, whether the certificate is valid for letting and for registration, and when your region's registration window opens and closes.
EPC C by 2030: policy, not yet law
In January 2026 the government confirmed its policy that all privately rented homes in England and Wales should reach EPC C or equivalent by 1 Oct 2030, for new and existing tenancies alike. It plans new powers, and expects regulations to take effect in 2027, subject to Parliament, so details may still change. Landlords would not have to spend more than £10,000 per property, and qualifying works since 1 Oct 2025 count towards that cap. Boiler Upgrade Scheme grants do not count. A certificate at C or above lodged before 1 October 2029 is expected to count as compliant until it expires.
Until then, the legal minimum stays at band E, with fines of up to £5,000 per property. EPCs themselves are being reformed, with new headline measures expected second half of 2027. Read more in EPC C by 2030 and the cheapest route to C, or track your spend with the £10,000 cap tracker.
Sources: Government response on privately rented homes, January 2026; Energy Performance Certificates, gov.uk; Minimum energy efficiency standard guidance.
Questions
How do I check the EPC rating of a property?
Enter the house number or name and the postcode above. We look the property up on the government EPC register and show its current and potential band, its score, when the certificate was lodged and when it expires. You can also search the register yourself on gov.uk's Find an energy certificate service.
What EPC rating do I need to let a property?
Today the legal minimum is band E. You cannot let a property rated F or G unless a valid exemption is registered. Government policy, published in January 2026, is for every private rental to reach EPC C or equivalent by 1 Oct 2030, with regulations expected in 2027.
How long is an EPC valid?
10 years from the date it was lodged. You need a valid EPC when you market a property to let. Under current rules, an EPC that expires during a tenancy does not need replacing until the property is next let or marketed.
How much does it cost to get from EPC D to C?
It depends on the property. Loft insulation, heating controls and low-energy lighting are often the cheapest points, while wall insulation and heat pumps cost more. The government's impact assessment estimates average spend of about £5,400 per property. Under the 2030 policy no landlord would need to spend more than £10,000 per property.
Do I need an EPC to register on the landlord database?
Yes, where the property needs one. The Private Rented Sector Database asks for the EPC alongside the gas safety record and the electrical safety report, plus details of any energy efficiency exemption. It opens on 15 Dec 2026, West Midlands first.
Is EPC C by 2030 the law?
Not yet. It is government policy, confirmed in January 2026. The government plans new powers and expects regulations to take effect in 2027, subject to Parliament. Until then the legal minimum stays at band E.
Epiclet is a records tool and introducer, not a law firm, an installer or a government service. Results are estimates to help you plan, not legal advice. Rules change, so check gov.uk before you act.