How long does an EPC last?
EPCs are valid for ten years — but there are situations where you will need a new one sooner. Here is when a fresh certificate is required.
Ten years from lodgement
An Energy Performance Certificate is valid for ten years from the date it is lodged on the national EPC register. You can check the expiry date of any existing certificate for free on the government register using the property address.
Crucially, validity runs from lodgement, not from the date of sale or the start of a tenancy. A certificate produced eight years ago still has two years to run and can legally be reused.
When you need a new one sooner
You will need a fresh assessment if the existing certificate has expired, if the property has been materially altered — an extension, a conversion or a change to the heating system — or if you have made improvements and want the higher rating reflected before marketing.
Landlords should also renew early where the current rating sits at F or G, since those properties cannot legally be let under the Minimum Energy Efficiency Standard without a valid exemption.
Reusing an existing certificate
If a valid EPC already exists, you do not need to commission another one to sell or re-let. Estate agents will usually pull the existing certificate straight from the register. The only reason to replace it early is to capture improvement work that would raise the band.
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