Department for Communities and Local Government

• Planning, building and the environment
• Sustainability
• Energy performance
• Existing dwellings

Planning, building and the environment

Existing dwellings

An Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) is intended to inform a potential purchaser or tenant about the energy performance of a building, so they can consider energy efficiency and fuel costs as part of their investment decision to buy or rent a property.

The EPC is a compulsory document which a seller or landlord must by law provide when putting their property on the market. The EPC will show an energy efficiency rating for the energy performance of a home from A to G, where A is very efficient and G is very inefficient.

This is similar to the ratings now displayed on domestic appliances such as refrigerators and washing machines.

The rating is based on factors such as age, size, construction, heating, lighting, and insulation. EPCs are calculated on the basis of standard occupancy energy usage patterns to ensure that the results are consistent for similar building types and relate to the physical fabric of the building rather than the energy usage patterns of the individual occupant which can vary appreciably between households. This enables prospective buyers or tenants to compare EPCs on a like for like basis. Accompanying the energy efficiency rating is an environmental impact rating of the CO 2 emissions relating to the property. A recommendation report forms part of the certificate and it provides information about a range of improvement measures which could improve the home's energy performance.

Explore the related publications below for further information about the energy performance of existing dwellings, including information on EPCs and advice to tenants and landlords.

In this section

• Accreditation

Related downloads

• Frequently asked questions on Energy Performance Certificates for holiday lets in England and Wales (revised December 2011)
  PDF, 75 kb, 6 pages
• Minimum Requirements for Energy Assessors - existing dwellings
  PDF, 67 kb

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Related publications

• A guide to generating Energy Performance Certificates for similar dwellings owned by the same landlord

  • Published: 30 July 2008
  • Site: Planning, building and the environment

• Home buyers and sellers guide to Energy Performance Certificates (EPCs)

  • Published: 7 July 2008
  • Site: Planning, building and the environment

• Energy Performance Certificates (EPCs) and renting homes: A tenant's guide

  • Published: 13 August 2008
  • Site: Planning, building and the environment

• Energy Performance Certificates (EPCs) and renting homes: A landlord's guide

  • Published: 5 September 2008
  • Site: Planning, building and the environment

• Local weights and measures guidance for Energy Certificates and air-conditioning inspections for buildings

  • Published: 31 October 2008
  • Site: Planning, building and the environment

• Notice of Approval of the methodology of calculation of the energy performance of buildings in England and Wales

  • Published: 2 October 2008
  • Site: Planning, building and the environment

• Specification for software to generate the Advisory Report using the database of measures and payback periods

  • Published: 31 October 2008
  • Site: Planning, building and the environment

• Energy Assessors: Accreditation of prior experiential learning (APEL) framework

  • Published: 12 December 2008
  • Site: Planning, building and the environment

Archived content

• Requirements for energy performance certificates (EPCs) when marketing homes for sale or let