In summary
If you rent out a property in England or Wales, an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) is a legal requirement. An EPC rates a home's energy efficiency from A (most efficient) to G (least efficient) and is valid for 10 years.
Landlord EPC duties in England and Wales
If you rent out a property in England or Wales, an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) is a legal requirement. An EPC rates a home’s energy efficiency from A (most efficient) to G (least efficient) and is valid for 10 years. You must provide a valid EPC to prospective tenants before you market the property, and you cannot grant a new tenancy without one.
The current minimum EPC rating
Under the Minimum Energy Efficiency Standards (MEES), privately rented homes must have an EPC rating of at least band E. It is unlawful to let or continue to let a property that falls below band E unless a valid exemption is registered. This standard already applies to both new and existing tenancies.
The proposed move to EPC C
The government has signalled its intention to raise the minimum standard for rented homes to EPC band C. Under the proposals, the higher standard would apply to new tenancies first and to all existing tenancies a few years later. No date is yet fixed in law, but landlords are encouraged to plan energy-efficiency improvements now to spread the cost and avoid a last-minute rush.
Exemptions and penalties
Some properties can be registered as exempt on the government’s PRS Exemptions Register, for example where the required improvements would exceed the cost cap, where consent cannot be obtained, or where works would devalue the property. Exemptions must be applied for and are time-limited. Letting a sub-standard property without a valid exemption can result in a financial penalty of up to several thousand pounds per property, issued by the local authority.
How to obtain an EPC
An EPC must be produced by an accredited domestic energy assessor, who surveys the property and lodges the certificate on the national register. You can quickly look up an existing certificate or check a property’s current rating using our free EPC checker. For background on the rules, timelines and how ratings are calculated, see the main EPC and property energy rules hub. For a fuller breakdown of your legal obligations, read our guide to legal EPC responsibilities for landlords.