To find an EPC, enter the property's postcode in the lookup below. You will see the current rating, the expiry date and the recommended improvements. It is free.
If no certificate comes up, or the one on record has expired, you will need a new assessment from an accredited assessor before you sell or let. You can request one on our get-an-EPC page.
Look up a property’s EPC
Enter a postcode to find the certificate on the official register, see its rating and when it expires.
How do I find an EPC on the GOV.UK register?
Every EPC is lodged on a central register, and GOV.UK runs the free Find an energy certificate service for it. It covers England, Wales and Northern Ireland. Scotland has its own register, the Scottish EPC Register.
GOV.UK lets you search in three ways:
- By postcode. Choose "a domestic property" (a house or flat), then enter the postcode, for example LS1 4AP. Pick your address from the list.
- By street name and town. Use this if you do not know the postcode. GOV.UK points you to Royal Mail's postcode finder as an alternative.
- By certificate number. Use this if you already have the reference number from an old copy or from a listing.
GOV.UK's guidance says an EPC can be downloaded from the register using its unique reference number or the full postcode of the building (GOV.UK guide to EPCs for the marketing, sale and let of dwellings). Commercial premises use the separate "non-domestic property" option.
Can anyone look up an EPC?
Yes. The register is publicly searchable, so anyone can pull up a certificate for a building in England, Wales or Northern Ireland using its postcode, its street name and town, or its certificate number. The exception is a property that has been opted out of public disclosure. In England and Wales, GOV.UK says an opted-out EPC is removed from the registers within 2 weeks. In Northern Ireland, the Department of Finance says the assessor can opt a property out so its EPC can only be retrieved with its 20-digit code.
That is why EPCs are useful for due diligence. A buyer can check what a seller's certificate says, a letting agent can confirm a landlord's, and a landlord with several properties can check each one without chasing paperwork. If you are weighing up a purchase, our guide to EPC checks when buying a house covers what to look for.
Why does a property have more than one EPC?
Because homes get reassessed. EPCGuide's analysis of the full GOV.UK bulk domestic register for England and Wales, downloaded in August 2026, found 27,612,160 certificates covering 19,721,103 distinct properties. That is about 1.4 certificates for each home.
Only the newest one counts. GOV.UK's guidance says only the most recent EPC for a building is valid, so an older certificate stops counting the moment a later one is lodged, even if it has years left. If you find two or three certificates for the same address, compare the issue dates and use the latest.
This catches out landlords who keep an old PDF in a tenancy pack. If anyone has since commissioned a new assessment, the PDF in your file is no longer the valid certificate. The reverse also bites: a fresh assessment that scores lower replaces a better old one. Our guide to how long an EPC lasts explains when a new assessment is worth ordering.
Need an EPC for your property?
Only an assessment by an accredited energy assessor produces an official EPC. Tell us about the property and we can put you in touch with a trusted one.
What does an EPC show?
An EPC gives a property an energy efficiency rating from A (best) to G (worst), according to GOV.UK. GOV.UK's guide to EPCs for the marketing, sale and let of dwellings says the regulations require each certificate to include:
- the asset rating for the building
- a recommendation report, unless there is no reasonable potential for improvement
- the reference number
- the address
- an estimate of the total useful floor area
- the date it was issued
For each recommended measure, the report lists the indicative cost, the typical cost saving and the rating you would reach after the improvement. The potential rating on the front page is based on all the cost-effective recommendations being carried out.
A quick read of the certificate:
| Field | What it tells you |
|---|---|
| Current rating | The band (A to G) the property scores today |
| Potential rating | The band it could reach if the cost-effective recommendations are done |
| Recommendations | Measures with indicative cost, typical saving and the rating after improvement |
| Valid until | The date the certificate expires |
| Reference number | The number that finds this exact certificate on the register |
How do I tell if an EPC has expired?
An EPC is valid for 10 years, and the expiry date is printed on the certificate as "valid until". GOV.UK's guidance adds two points worth knowing:
- A valid EPC can be reused as many times as needed within those 10 years. You do not need a new one each time you sell or let.
- Only the most recent EPC for a building is valid. If a newer certificate has been lodged, the old one no longer counts, even if it has years left.
If the "valid until" date has passed, treat the property as having no valid EPC and request a new assessment. Our guide to how long an EPC lasts covers the detail.
What if I cannot find an EPC?
Try all three search routes before you assume there is none: postcode, street name and town, and certificate number.
If there is still nothing, there are four realistic explanations:
- You searched for the block, not the flat. GOV.UK's guidance says an EPC can be produced for a whole building or for any building unit designed or altered for separate use. A flat with its own access or its own heating controls can have its own certificate, so search for the flat's own address as well as the building's.
- The owner or occupier has opted out. GOV.UK's opt-out guidance (last updated 8 July 2019, applies to England and Wales) says an opted-out EPC is removed from the registers within 2 weeks and from future bulk data releases. The guidance does not say what an opt-out means for the certificate's validity, so ask the owner or their agent for a copy.
- No certificate has been lodged. The property then has no valid EPC. A seller or landlord must commission one before marketing the property if none exists (GOV.UK).
- The building does not need one. GOV.UK lists exemptions, including temporary buildings with a planned time of use of two years or less, stand-alone buildings under 50 square metres, residential buildings used or intended to be used for less than four months a year (or expected to use less than 25% of year-round energy), buildings suitable for demolition with the right permissions, and protected buildings, such as some listed buildings, where meeting the requirements would unacceptably alter their character or appearance.
Only an accredited domestic energy assessor can produce a valid EPC. They must belong to a government-approved accreditation scheme and lodge the certificate on the register. If you need one, we put you in touch with a trusted accredited assessor. For what it usually costs, see EPC assessment cost, and for the full process see how to get an EPC certificate.
How do I get a copy of an EPC?
Download it from the register. GOV.UK's guidance says an EPC can be downloaded using its unique reference number, the full postcode of the building, or the street name and post town together.
If you have just paid for a new assessment, the assessor must give the seller or landlord a copy once the data is lodged on the register. With the seller or landlord's agreement, the assessor can give the report reference number instead, so they can print their own. Keep that number: it finds the exact certificate when an address search does not.
Can I look up a commercial EPC or a display energy certificate?
Yes, from the same GOV.UK service. It also covers display energy certificates for public buildings and air conditioning inspection certificates, and it has a separate "non-domestic property" search for business premises. The postcode lookup on this page is for homes.
What if the details on my EPC look wrong?
There are two different cases.
Works done since the assessment. An EPC records the property on the day it was assessed. A new boiler, insulation or double glazing will not show until a new assessment is lodged. The new certificate then replaces the old one on the register.
An outright error. GOV.UK says to contact the energy assessor first, then their accreditation scheme if it is not resolved. The scheme must investigate, and where the information is wrong a new EPC must be issued and the register amended. The assessor and scheme are named on the certificate.
To sense-check what a property should score before you pay for anything, try the free EPC predictor tool.
Why landlords check the EPC before letting
The landlord rules below apply in England and Wales.
- In force now: the minimum standard for letting is EPC band E. It applies to new and renewed tenancies from 1 April 2018 and to all tenancies from 1 April 2020 (GOV.UK landlord guidance).
- Marketing a rental: the EPC must be commissioned before the property goes on the market. The landlord must use all reasonable efforts to have it within 7 days of first marketing, with a further 21 days if it still cannot be obtained (Energy Performance of Buildings (England and Wales) Regulations 2012, regulation 7).
- The tenant: the landlord must give a valid EPC free of charge to the person who becomes the tenant (regulation 6).
- Decided policy, not yet law: the government's 21 January 2026 response says all in-scope tenancies must meet a new standard by 1 October 2030, usually described as EPC C. It needs an Act of Parliament and then a statutory instrument first. See the 2030 deadline guide and the MEES regulations guide.
For a portfolio, run each postcode through the postcode EPC lookup tool and flag anything below band C. The cost calculator then turns the gap into a budget.
What does the register say about homes in England and Wales?
Of the 19.7 million homes in England and Wales that hold an EPC, 9.8 million, 49.6%, sit below band C. That is the standard the government wants every rented home to reach by 2030, usually described as EPC C (decided policy, not yet law). The figures come from EPCGuide's analysis of the full GOV.UK bulk domestic register, downloaded in August 2026, counting each home once by its newest certificate.
| Tenure | Homes with an EPC | Share below band C |
|---|---|---|
| Privately rented | 3,467,781 | 53.3% |
| Owner-occupied | 9,189,856 | 61.5% |
| Social rented | 3,001,110 | 33.2% |
Privately rented homes are 8.2 percentage points less likely than owner-occupied ones to sit below band C (53.3% against 61.5%), and the pattern holds in 286 of 318 local authorities. Where your certificate sits against those figures depends heavily on location, so check your area on the EPC map of England and Wales or in the EPCGuide Research Hub.
If your certificate is below C, the EPC predictor shows which measures would move it, and our guide to the cheapest ways to improve an EPC rating ranks them by cost per point.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I find an EPC for a property? Enter the postcode in the lookup on this page, or use the free GOV.UK Find an energy certificate service. You can search by postcode, by street name and town, or by certificate number. The certificate shows the current rating, potential rating, recommendations and the date it is valid until.
Can I check an EPC rating by postcode for free? Yes. Both the lookup on this page and the GOV.UK register are free to use. Enter the postcode, pick the exact address and open the certificate.
How long is an EPC valid for? Ten years from the date it was issued. The "valid until" date is printed on the certificate. Only the most recent EPC for a building is valid, so a newer certificate replaces an older one.
What if a property has no EPC on the register? Try the street name and town search and the certificate number as well as the postcode. If there is still no result, the property may have no valid EPC, or the owner may have opted out, so ask the owner or their agent for a copy. If there is none and the building is not exempt, a seller or landlord must commission one before marketing, and only an accredited domestic energy assessor can produce it.
What does an EPC tell you? It shows the energy efficiency rating from A (best) to G (worst), a recommendation report with indicative costs and savings, the rating after improvement, the reference number, the address and the date of issue.
Do landlords have to check the EPC before letting? A landlord must hold a valid EPC, give it free of charge to the tenant and, in England and Wales, meet the minimum standard of band E unless an exemption is registered. From 1 October 2030 the minimum is proposed to rise to a new standard usually described as EPC C. That is decided policy, not yet law, and there is no earlier date for new tenancies.
Is the EPC search different in Scotland? Yes. Scotland has its own register, the Scottish EPC Register. The GOV.UK service covers England, Wales and Northern Ireland.
My EPC shows the wrong details. What can I do? If it is an error, contact the assessor first, then their accreditation scheme. If you have made improvements since the assessment, you need a new assessment to record them.
Can anyone see my EPC? Yes, unless the property has been opted out. The register is publicly searchable by postcode, street name and town, or certificate number, so anyone can open the certificate for a property in England, Wales or Northern Ireland that has not been opted out. GOV.UK says an owner or occupier in England or Wales may opt out of public disclosure. In Northern Ireland, the Department of Finance says the assessor can opt a property out so its EPC can only be retrieved with its 20-digit code.
Can I opt out of the EPC register? Yes. In England and Wales, GOV.UK's guidance says holders of EPCs may opt out by contacting the helpdesk, and the EPC is then removed from the registers within 2 weeks and from future bulk data releases. The guidance does not say what an opt-out means for the certificate's validity, and it is not available for display energy certificates on public buildings. In Northern Ireland, the Department of Finance says the assessor can opt a property out so its EPC can only be retrieved with its 20-digit code.
Why does my property have more than one EPC on the register? Because it has been reassessed. EPCGuide's analysis of the August 2026 GOV.UK bulk domestic register found 27,612,160 certificates covering 19,721,103 properties, about 1.4 each. Only the most recent certificate for a building is valid, so compare issue dates and use the newest.
How do I get a copy of my EPC? GOV.UK's guidance says an EPC can be downloaded from the register using its unique reference number, the full postcode, or the street name and post town. If you have just had an assessment, the assessor must give the seller or landlord a copy once the data is lodged.
Can I find an EPC for a flat? Yes, search for the flat's own address. GOV.UK's guidance says an EPC can be produced for a whole building or for any building unit designed or altered for separate use, and a unit with its own access or heating controls can have its own certificate.
Can I look up a commercial EPC? Yes. The GOV.UK Find an energy certificate service has a separate non-domestic property search for business premises, and it also covers display energy certificates and air conditioning inspection certificates.
Last updated 3 October 2026. EPCGuide's own analysis covers 27.6 million certificates covering 19.7 million homes in England and Wales. See the EPCGuide Research Hub for methodology and data.