An Energy Performance Certificate rates your property's energy efficiency from A (most efficient) to G (least efficient). The score is calculated using the Standard Assessment Procedure (SAP) which considers insulation, heating systems, glazing, lighting and more.
A
92–100 SAP pointsExtremely efficient — new builds, heat pumps, solar PVMost efficient
B
81–91 SAP pointsVery good — modern insulation, efficient boiler
55–68 SAP pointsAverage — most UK homes fall hereUK average
E
39–54 SAP pointsBelow average — current landlord legal minimumLandlord minimum
F
21–38 SAP pointsPoor — cannot legally let without an exemption
G
1–20 SAP pointsVery poor — cannot legally let without an exemptionLeast efficient
EPC Rating Estimator
Answer questions about your property to get an estimated EPC band and personalised improvement suggestions. This is an estimate only — a formal EPC requires an accredited assessor visit.
D
Estimated Band D
SAP score approximately 55–68
EPC Legal Requirements: Who Needs One?
An EPC is legally required in the following situations:
Selling a property: An EPC must be commissioned before a property is put on the market. It must be made available to prospective buyers free of charge.
Letting a property: An EPC must be commissioned before a property is marketed for let. The EPC must be provided to prospective tenants and the actual tenant at or before the start of the tenancy.
New build: An EPC is required on completion, produced as part of the Building Regulations compliance process.
An EPC is NOT required when: the property is a listed building (though this exception has been narrowed), the property is used for less than four months per year, the property is rented under an industrial, workshop or agricultural tenancy, or the building is due for demolition.
Landlord Minimum EPC Requirements (MEES)
Current minimum (2026): EPC E. Since April 2020, all privately rented properties in England and Wales must have an EPC rating of E or above. You cannot legally let a property rated F or G without registering a valid exemption on the PRS Exemptions Register. Penalties for breaching MEES: up to £30,000 per breach.
The Government has proposed raising the minimum EPC requirement for private rented properties to Band C for new tenancies in England. This proposal has been subject to delays and the implementation date has not been confirmed at the time of writing. Landlords should monitor MHCLG and DESNZ announcements for updates. Scotland has its own trajectory under the Heat in Buildings strategy.
Costs and How to Get an EPC
Item
Cost / Detail
Domestic EPC cost
£60–£120 (varies by region and assessor)
Validity period
10 years
Who can issue
Government-accredited Domestic Energy Assessor (DEA)
Accreditation bodies
Elmhurst Energy, NHER, Quidos, Stroma, BRE
Where to find assessors
epcregister.com / accreditation body websites
Where EPCs are lodged
EPC Register at epcregister.com (publicly searchable)
Existing EPC lookup
Check if your property already has a valid EPC at epcregister.com for free
How to Improve Your EPC Rating
Your EPC report will include a list of recommended improvements with estimated costs and the number of SAP points each improvement would add. Here are the most impactful improvements with typical UK costs and rating improvements:
Improvement
Typical Cost
SAP Points Added
Other Benefits
Solid wall insulation (external)
£8,000–£22,000
+10–15
Large energy bill saving
Cavity wall insulation
£400–£800
+7–9
Fast payback period
Loft insulation (top up to 270mm)
£300–£600
+5–7
Excellent payback
Air source heat pump
£8,000–£15,000
+15–25
Eligible for BUS grant (£7,500)
Solar PV panels (3.5kW)
£5,000–£9,000
+10–20
Electricity bill reduction + SEG
New gas condensing boiler
£2,000–£4,000
+5–10
Lower gas bills
Double glazing (full house)
£5,000–£12,000
+2–5
Noise reduction
Triple glazing (full house)
£8,000–£18,000
+3–7
Best thermal performance
Underfloor insulation
£500–£2,500
+2–4
Comfort improvement
LED lighting throughout
£100–£300
+1–2
Immediate electricity saving
Government Grants for Energy Improvements in 2026
Boiler Upgrade Scheme (BUS): £7,500 grant towards heat pump installation (air source or ground source). Eligible for most properties in England and Wales. Apply through an MCS-certified installer.
ECO4 (Energy Company Obligation): Free or subsidised insulation and heating upgrades for low-income households and those on benefits. Delivered by energy suppliers.
Great British Insulation Scheme: Single insulation measure grants for households in EPC bands D-G and low-income households in C-G.
Home Upgrade Grant (HUG2): Funding for off-gas-grid homes with low EPC ratings in certain local authority areas. Check with your local council.
Green Mortgages: Financial Incentive for High EPC Properties
Properties rated A or B on their EPC are eligible for green mortgages from major UK lenders including Barclays, NatWest, Nationwide, Halifax and others. These products offer preferential interest rates, typically 0.05-0.20 percentage points lower than standard products. On a £250,000 mortgage over 25 years, a 0.15% rate reduction saves approximately £4,000-£6,000 in interest over the mortgage term. As energy efficiency requirements tighten, the market for high-EPC properties is likely to become more favourable.
EPC and Property Value
Research by Rightmove and the Nationwide Building Society has found that properties with higher EPC ratings command higher sale prices. Properties rated A/B sell for approximately 6% more than equivalent properties rated D, and approximately 18% more than F/G rated properties in the same area. As energy prices remain elevated and buyer awareness grows, EPC rating is increasingly factored into property valuations.
If a landlord is unable to achieve EPC Band E or above despite spending up to £3,500 (including VAT) on relevant improvements, they may register an exemption on the PRS Exemptions Register (accessible via GOV.UK). Valid exemption categories include:
All improvements made: All relevant measures recommended by the EPC have been installed but the property still does not reach E
High cost exemption: The cost of improvements would exceed £3,500 and no single measure can be funded at or below the cap
Consent refused: A tenant, freeholder, or planning authority has refused consent for recommended works
Devaluation: An independent surveyor has confirmed the works would reduce the market value of the property by more than 5%
Recently let property: Temporary 6-month exemption for newly acquired properties with existing tenants on low-efficiency properties
Exemptions last 5 years. At the end of the exemption period, the landlord must reassess whether improvements can now be made. Incorrectly registered exemptions can lead to penalties of up to £30,000.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC)?
An Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) is a document rating a property's energy efficiency on a scale from A (most efficient, score 92+) to G (least efficient, score 1-20). It is produced by a government-accredited domestic energy assessor. EPCs are valid for 10 years and must be provided to buyers and tenants before a property is marketed for sale or let.
What is the minimum EPC rating for rental properties in the UK?
Since April 2020, all privately rented properties in England and Wales must have an EPC rating of E or above (Minimum Energy Efficiency Standards — MEES). Landlords cannot let a property rated F or G without a valid exemption registered on the PRS Exemptions Register. Penalties for non-compliance can reach £30,000. The Government has proposed raising the minimum to C but this has been delayed.
How long is an EPC valid for?
An EPC is valid for 10 years from the date it was produced. If the property has been significantly improved since the last EPC — for example, new insulation or a heat pump installed — it is worth getting a fresh assessment as an improved rating can help with lettings compliance, mortgage applications and property value.
How much does an EPC cost in the UK?
An EPC for a domestic property in the UK costs between £60 and £120 depending on the assessor and region. London and South East prices tend to be at the higher end. You must use a government-accredited assessor — find one at epcregister.com or via the Elmhurst Energy, NHER or Quidos websites.
What improvements have the biggest impact on EPC rating?
The biggest EPC rating improvements come from: solid wall insulation (+10-15 SAP points), heat pump installation (+15-25 points), solar PV panels (+10-20 points), cavity wall insulation (+7-9 points), loft insulation (+5-7 points), and a new condensing boiler (+5-10 points). Your EPC report will list specific recommendations for your property.
What is the MEES exemption register?
The MEES Exemptions Register allows landlords to register an exemption if they cannot achieve EPC E despite spending up to £3,500 on improvements, if measures are not technically feasible, if a third party has refused consent, or if improvements would devalue the property. Exemptions last 5 years and must be registered on the official GOV.UK PRS Exemptions Register.
Do new build properties need an EPC?
Yes, all new build properties require an EPC produced as part of the Building Regulations compliance process. New builds typically achieve A or B ratings due to modern insulation standards, high-efficiency heating systems, and double or triple glazing as standard.
What is a green mortgage and do I qualify?
A green mortgage offers preferential interest rates to buyers or remortgagers with properties rated A or B on their EPC. Major UK lenders including Barclays, NatWest, Halifax and Nationwide offer green mortgages. The rate discount is typically 0.05-0.20 percentage points lower than standard products — potentially saving thousands over the mortgage term.
MB
Mustafa Bilgic
Energy efficiency and property specialist with expertise in UK EPC regulations, the Minimum Energy Efficiency Standards (MEES) regime, and government grant schemes for home energy improvement. Mustafa helps landlords and homeowners understand their obligations and options.