Your EPC and what it means for your bills

When a home is rented out, the law usually requires it to have an Energy Performance Certificate, or EPC. It tells you how energy efficient your home is, which gives you a useful idea of what it may cost to heat and power.

How to read your EPC

• The rating. Homes are rated from A (the most efficient) to G (the least efficient).
• Energy use and typical costs. The certificate shows how the home uses energy and what it typically costs to run. These are typical figures rather than a forecast of your own bills.
• Recommendations. It lists steps that could improve the home's energy efficiency and save money.

An EPC lasts for 10 years, unless a newer one replaces it.

Your right to see it

You're entitled to see the EPC free of charge before you rent, at the latest when you view the home or when we first send you written details about it, whichever comes first. The law also says you must be given a free copy when you become the tenant. Any advert for a rented home must show its energy rating too.

The minimum rating

Since 1 April 2020, a privately rented home in England and Wales has had to be rated at least E, unless an exemption applies.

The government plans to raise the minimum to C, with landlords needing to meet it by 1 October 2030. This still needs Parliament's approval and isn't law yet. Under the government's plans, a home with an EPC rating of C or above lodged before 1 October 2029 would count as meeting the new standard until that certificate runs out.

Find your home's EPC

You can look up the EPC for any home in England, Wales or Northern Ireland on the government's free "Find an energy certificate" service. Search by postcode, by street and town, or by certificate number, and download a copy.

Find out more

• Find an energy certificate (GOV.UK)
• Energy Performance Certificates explained (GOV.UK)
• Minimum energy efficiency standard: landlord guidance (GOV.UK)
• Improving the energy performance of privately rented homes: government response (GOV.UK)