Do I legally need an EPC to sell my house?

Yes. Under the Energy Performance of Buildings (England and Wales) Regulations 2012, a seller must commission an Energy Performance Certificate before a property is put on the market, and must use all reasonable efforts to have it within 7 days of marketing starting. The rating must be shown in the advert and the full certificate given to the buyer free of charge.

How long does an EPC last?

An EPC is valid for 10 years. If your property already has a valid certificate on the national EPC register you can reuse it, though a new assessment is worth doing after insulation, glazing, heating or solar upgrades because it may lift the rating.

What is the penalty for selling without an EPC?

Trading Standards can issue a penalty charge notice of £200 for a dwelling marketed without an EPC. For commercial buildings the penalty is based on rateable value, between £500 and £5,000.

What EPC rating do I need to let a property?

Minimum Energy Efficiency Standards currently require a rated E or better to let a property in England and Wales, unless a valid exemption is registered. Government policy is moving rented homes towards EPC C, so landlords selling now often price in the cost of that upgrade.

Seller essentials

You need an EPC — here's the law, in plain English

An Energy Performance Certificate is not optional paperwork. It is a legal condition of marketing your home, it has to be ordered before the first advert goes out, and it is one of the fastest things a seller can get wrong. It is also one of the quickest wins in the government's push to speed up home sales: order it the day you decide to sell.

The short version

Commission the EPC before your property is advertised.
Have the certificate within 7 days of marketing starting.
Show the rating in the listing and give the buyer the full certificate free.
It lasts 10 years — check the official EPC register before paying for a new one.
Marketing a home without one risks a £200 penalty charge notice.

You must commission it before marketing

The Energy Performance of Buildings (England and Wales) Regulations 2012 place the duty on the seller — or the agent acting for them. You must have ordered an EPC before the property is advertised, and use all reasonable efforts to have the certificate in hand within 7 days of marketing starting. A further 21 days is allowed only where the assessment genuinely could not be completed.

The rating must appear in the advert

Any advertisement in commercial media must show the energy efficiency rating. On HausMart the EPC band sits on the property card, so buyers see it while they are swiping rather than finding it buried in a brochure.

The buyer gets the full certificate, free

The complete EPC and its recommendation report must be given to the buyer at no cost, at the earliest opportunity and no later than completion. It also forms part of the material information a listing is now expected to disclose up front.

It lasts 10 years

EPCs are valid for 10 years and are held on the national register, so a recent certificate can be reused. Reassess after insulation, glazing, heating or solar work — a better band is a genuine selling point and increasingly a pricing factor.

Penalties for getting it wrong

Trading Standards can issue a £200 penalty charge notice for marketing a dwelling without an EPC. Commercial buildings attract £500 to £5,000 depending on rateable value. Enforcement sits with local authority Trading Standards, and the duty cannot be contracted away to the buyer.

Letting is stricter than selling

Minimum Energy Efficiency Standards mean a rented home in England and Wales must reach band E unless a valid exemption is registered, with policy moving towards band C. If you are selling an ex-rental, expect buy-to-let buyers to price the gap between your band and C into their offer.

Scotland and Northern Ireland

Scotland runs its own regime — an EPC is required and the certificate must physically be displayed in the property, with Home Reports covering most residential sales. Northern Ireland follows broadly the same duties as England and Wales under its own 2008 regulations.

The narrow exemptions

Listed buildings are exempt only where compliance would unacceptably alter their character or appearance — being listed is not an automatic pass. Other exemptions include places of worship, temporary buildings in use for under two years, standalone buildings under 50 m², and properties due for demolition with consents in place.

Check the official EPC register

Every certificate is lodged on a government register, so before you pay for a new assessment, search your address — a certificate issued in the last 10 years is still valid and can be reused for your sale. The register also lists accredited assessors.

England & WalesFind an existing certificate, or an accredited assessor, by postcode.Search the register ↗
ScotlandScottish EPC Register — search by address or report reference number.Search the register ↗
Northern IrelandEPB NI register — retrieve certificates and find assessors.Search the register ↗

External links open the official government registers. HausMart is not affiliated with them.

Booking an assessment

An EPC must be produced by an accredited domestic energy assessor. A visit to an average house takes under an hour — the assessor measures the property and records construction, insulation, glazing, heating, controls and any renewables. Typical cost is £50–£120. Have loft hatch access, boiler paperwork and any insulation, glazing or solar certificates ready; unevidenced improvements simply do not count towards the score.

This page is general guidance on UK energy performance rules, not legal advice.

Our EPC and moving partners

HausMart takes no commission on a sale. We do work with a small number of vetted sponsors who help sellers get move-ready faster — clearly labelled, never mixed into your matches.

Domestic energy assessors
Sponsor slot available
Accredited assessors covering EPC surveys for sellers — featured to every homeowner who reaches this page before listing.
Conveyancing solicitors
Sponsor slot available
Residential conveyancers ready to open a file the day a seller instructs, with upfront property packs prepared before marketing.
Retrofit and insulation
Sponsor slot available
Insulation, glazing, heat pump and solar installers who can lift a band before the property goes live.

Become a sponsor

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