How Long Does an EPC Last?

An Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) lasts 10 years. The certificate shows a “valid until” date, which is 10 years after it was issued. During that time, you can use the same EPC to sell or let the property as many times as you like.

However, an expired EPC is not a problem on its own. Nothing happens on the expiry date. You only need a new certificate when you next sell, or let the property to a new tenant. This guide explains how validity works, how to check your expiry date, and when you actually need a new EPC. To see your own expiry date now, use our free EPC rating check.

How long an EPC is valid for

A domestic EPC is valid for 10 years from the date it was issued. That date is printed on the certificate, and it also appears on the government’s EPC register.

Importantly, “valid” does not mean the rating is still accurate. The certificate is a snapshot of the home on the day of the assessment. So if you have added insulation or a new boiler since then, the EPC will not show it. Even so, the certificate stays valid until its 10 years are up.

Here is what a valid EPC lets you do:

• Market a home for sale without ordering a new certificate
• Give a copy to a new tenant at the start of a tenancy
• Show buyers and tenants the rating and the estimated running costs
• Use the same certificate for more than one sale or let within the 10 years

How to check when your EPC expires

Checking takes a couple of minutes. You only need the postcode.

1. Search the postcode. Use our free EPC rating check, or the official register at gov.uk/find-energy-certificate.
2. Pick the property. Choose your address from the list.
3. Read the expiry date. Our check shows the date the certificate runs out. On the official register, look for the “valid until” date.
4. Check the rating as well. This matters most if you let the property, because rented homes must currently reach at least band E.

Remember that the 10 years run from the date the certificate was issued. They do not run from when you bought the home or moved in. So a recent buyer may find the previous owner’s certificate is already several years old.

If nothing comes up, the property may never have had an EPC. Alternatively, the address may be listed slightly differently, so try a flat number or house name. A certificate lodged in the last few weeks may also not appear in our check yet. In that case, use the official register.

What happens when an EPC expires?

Nothing happens automatically. There is no fine, no letter and no inspection triggered by the date alone. If you live in the home and are not selling or letting it, you can leave an expired EPC as it is.

Instead, the expiry date matters when you need to show a valid certificate to someone else. You will need a valid EPC when you:

• Put a home on the market for sale
• Advertise a property to rent to a new tenant
• Start a new tenancy
• Finish building a new home, or convert a building into separate homes

By contrast, living in the home, remortgaging and renewing your insurance do not usually need an EPC. Some mortgage lenders ask about energy ratings, though, so it is worth checking with yours.

Selling with an expired EPC

You need a valid EPC before you market a home for sale. So if yours has expired, book a new one before the property goes on the market. Your estate agent will usually ask for it first.

Leaving it late can slow a sale down. Assessors need a few days’ notice, and the certificate is usually lodged a few days after the visit. Therefore, it pays to check your expiry date as soon as you start thinking about selling. Our guide on whether you can sell a house without an EPC explains the rules and the penalties.

How often does a rental property need an EPC?

A rental property needs a valid EPC every time you market it or let it to a new tenant. In practice, that usually means a new certificate every 10 years. One EPC covers every tenancy you start during those 10 years.

If the certificate expires part-way through a tenancy, you do not normally need to replace it straight away. Instead, you need a new one before you next market the property or start a new tenancy. If you are unsure about your own situation, check the government’s landlord guidance.

Bear in mind that expiry and rating are two different things. A rented home must currently reach at least band E under the Minimum Energy Efficiency Standards. So a certificate can be perfectly valid and still show an F or G, which you cannot let without a registered exemption. Looking ahead, the government has confirmed that private rented homes must reach the equivalent of band C by 1 October 2030, covering new and existing tenancies. That is confirmed policy rather than law so far. Our guide to EPC requirements for landlords covers the rules in full.

Do you need a new EPC after home improvements?

No, not legally. Improvements such as an extension, a heat pump, a new boiler or insulation do not cancel your existing EPC. It stays valid for its full 10 years.

However, a new EPC is often worth getting. Your old certificate will not update by itself, so a fresh assessment is the only way to show the better rating. For example:

• Before a sale, a better rating can help buyers see lower running costs.
• For landlords, a property that reaches band C on the current rating before 1 October 2029 is intended to count as compliant with the 2030 standard until that certificate expires.
• After major work, such as a heat pump or solar panels, the new rating may be noticeably higher.

When you book, have the paperwork for the work ready. Assessors can only record what they can see or what you can prove.

How to renew an EPC

You cannot extend an existing EPC. Instead, “renewing” simply means getting a new assessment. An accredited assessor visits the property, and the new certificate replaces the old one on the register. It then lasts another 10 years.

You can get a new EPC at any time, even before the old one expires. The newest certificate is the one that counts.

Across the market, most domestic EPCs cost between £60 and £120. With us, the price is fixed at £69 for up to 3 bedrooms or £79 for 4 bedrooms. Our guide to how much an EPC costs explains what affects the price.

Frequently asked questions

How long is an EPC valid for?

A domestic EPC is valid for 10 years from the date it was issued. The certificate shows a “valid until” date, and you can find it on the official EPC register.

Does an EPC expire?

Yes, after 10 years. However, nothing happens automatically when it does. You only need a new one when you next sell the property or let it to a new tenant.

Can I sell a house with an expired EPC?

No. You need a valid EPC before you market a home for sale. If yours has expired, book a new assessment before the property goes on the market.

Can I let a property with an expired EPC?

Not to a new tenant. You need a valid EPC before you advertise the property or start a new tenancy. If the certificate expires during an existing tenancy, you do not normally need a new one until you next let the property.

Do I need a new EPC for every new tenant?

No. One valid EPC covers every tenancy you start during its 10 years. You only need a new one when the old certificate has expired, or when you want to show an improved rating.

Does a new boiler or insulation make my EPC invalid?

No. Home improvements do not cancel your existing EPC, which stays valid for its full 10 years. However, a new assessment is the only way to show the better rating.

Do I need a new EPC when I remortgage?

Usually not, because remortgaging does not legally require an EPC. Even so, some lenders ask about energy ratings, so check with yours.

Can I get a new EPC before my old one expires?

Yes. You can get a new EPC at any time, for example after making improvements. The new certificate replaces the old one and lasts another 10 years.

How much does a new EPC cost?

Most domestic EPCs in England and Wales cost between £60 and £120. With us, the price is fixed at £69 for up to 3 bedrooms or £79 for 4 bedrooms.

For more on what your rating means, read EPC ratings explained, or browse all our EPC guides. If your certificate has expired or is about to, you can book an EPC assessment in a few minutes.