Enter a postcode to search the official EPC register for England, Wales and Northern Ireland. See any property’s energy rating, estimated running costs and recommended improvements, then download the certificate for free.
Free EPC check
Check any property's EPC rating
Search the official government EPC register and get a free report showing the rating, running costs and the improvements that would lift it.
- Official government register data
- Free, in under a minute
- Downloadable report
- Official government register data
- Free, no account needed
- Works for homes, flats and commercial properties
How to search the EPC register by postcode
The EPC register is the official record of every Energy Performance Certificate lodged in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. It’s run by the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) and is free to search.
- Enter the postcode in the search box above, or on the official GOV.UK Find an energy certificate service.
- Pick the property from the list of addresses at that postcode. Flats often appear as separate entries, so check the flat number carefully.
- Open the certificate to see the rating, score, running costs and recommendations, and download or print it.
You can also search by street and town or by certificate number if you have it.
How to get a copy of your EPC
You don’t need to contact your assessor or the previous owner to get a copy of your EPC. Every certificate lodged since 2008 is held on the register, so you can find it and download it yourself in a couple of minutes.
The certificate shows a 20-digit certificate number (also called the report reference number or RRN). Keep a note of it: it’s the quickest way to find the certificate again and is often requested by lenders, letting agents and the new landlord register.
Your EPC also records useful details about the property, such as floor area, wall and roof type, glazing, heating system and the age of the building. If you’re new to EPCs, our guide on what an EPC is and how ratings work explains each section.
Can’t find your EPC?
If your property doesn’t come up, try these checks before booking a new assessment:
- Try a different address format. Flats are sometimes lodged as “Flat 2”, “2” or “Apartment 2”, or under the building name rather than the street.
- Search by the full postcode and street rather than the house number alone.
- Check whether it was lodged recently. New certificates usually appear within a few days of the assessment.
- Ask whoever arranged it. The previous owner, their estate agent or solicitor, or your letting agent may have the certificate number.
- Check the title. If you’re unsure about the exact registered address, a Land Registry search will confirm it.
If there’s still nothing, the property probably has never had an EPC, or its certificate was lodged before the register moved to GOV.UK and is recorded under a different address. You can contact MHCLG through the help link on the Find an energy certificate service, or commission a new certificate.
Expired EPC: do you need a new one?
An EPC is valid for 10 years from the date it was issued. An expired EPC stays visible on the register, marked as expired, but you can’t rely on it for a sale or a new letting.
You need a valid EPC when you:
- Market a property for sale. The certificate must be in place when your home goes on the market (see our guide to the selling process).
- Let a property to a new tenant. You must give tenants a copy at the start of the tenancy, alongside the How to Rent guide and the gas safety certificate.
- Renew or re-let once the old certificate has run out.
What if the EPC expires during a tenancy? Under current rules you don’t have to get a new one while the same tenancy continues, but you will need one before re-letting or selling. The government is tightening EPC requirements as part of the 2030 changes, so it’s worth renewing early if your certificate is close to expiry and your rating is borderline.
To book an assessment, use the government’s find an energy assessor service. A domestic EPC typically takes under an hour on site and is lodged on the register within a few days.
Other EPC registers
Commercial (non-domestic) EPCs and Display Energy Certificates
Commercial property EPCs are on the same GOV.UK service as residential ones. Choose the non-domestic option when you search. The same service also holds Display Energy Certificates (DECs), which show the actual energy use of large public buildings, and air conditioning inspection reports.
Scotland
Scottish properties have their own register. Search the Scottish EPC Register using the postcode or the certificate’s reference number. Scottish certificates must also be displayed in the property, usually near the boiler or meter cupboard.
Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland EPCs are held on the same GOV.UK Find an energy certificate service as England and Wales, so you can search them in exactly the same way.
What happened to the Landmark EPC register?
Until September 2020 the register was run on the government’s behalf by a company called Landmark, which is why you’ll still see references to the “Landmark register” or “epcregister.com”. All of that data moved to GOV.UK, so any certificate lodged under Landmark is now searchable through the official service. Be cautious with sites that still use the old names and charge for certificates: searching and downloading from the official register is always free.
The PRS exemptions register
The private rented sector (PRS) exemptions register is a separate government register. It lists rental properties that fall below the legal minimum EPC rating but can still be let because the landlord has registered a valid exemption, for example because all affordable improvements have already been made or third-party consent was refused.
Landlords register exemptions through GOV.UK, and anyone can search the exemptions register, which also lists penalties issued to non-compliant landlords. Tenants sometimes use it to check whether a low-rated property is being let legally.
EPC rules for landlords in 2026
The rules today
Privately rented homes in England and Wales must have a minimum rating of E, unless an exemption is registered. Letting a property rated F or G without one can lead to fines of up to £5,000 per property. The full requirements are in the government’s minimum energy efficiency standard guidance for landlords.
EPC C by 1 October 2030
In January 2026 the government confirmed that all private tenancies, new and existing, must meet the equivalent of EPC C by 1 October 2030. The cost cap rises to £10,000 per property, and compliance will be measured against the building’s fabric performance plus either its heating system or its smart readiness. The earlier proposed deadlines of 2025 and 2028 are no longer going ahead. See the government response for the full detail.
A new style of EPC from 2027
The single A to G score is being replaced by four headline metrics: fabric performance, heating system, smart readiness and energy cost, calculated using a new methodology called the Home Energy Model. The launch has been moved to the second half of 2027. Existing certificates remain valid until they expire.
Why getting a C now matters
Rental homes rated C or above under the current system on a certificate issued before 1 October 2029 will be treated as compliant with the new standard until that EPC expires. Because EPCs last 10 years, a C secured in the next few years could cover your property well beyond 2030. If your property is currently a D, now is the time to look at the recommendations on your certificate.
EPCs and the new landlord register
Under the Renters’ Rights Act, landlords in England will soon need to register themselves and each rental property on a new national database, providing compliance details including the EPC. Registration begins rolling out from December 2026. Our guide to the Renters’ Rights Act explains what changes and when. If you let a shared house, also check whether you need a property licence, as the rules for an HMO with three tenants differ from a single let.
Managing your EPC from abroad
Many London landlords live overseas, and EPCs are one of the compliance tasks most often missed from a distance. You can check your certificate anytime on the register, but a new assessment needs someone to give the assessor access to the property and coordinate with your tenants.
Our property management service handles this for you: we track your EPC, gas safety and electrical certificates, arrange renewals before they expire and plan improvements ahead of the 2030 deadline. If you’re considering buying, checking the EPC early is an important part of investing in UK property from abroad, because the cost of reaching C affects your real rental yield.
Free EPC check
Check any property's EPC rating
Search the official government EPC register and get a free report showing the rating, running costs and the improvements that would lift it.
- Official government register data
- Free, in under a minute
- Downloadable report
Frequently asked questions
Yes. Searching the official register and downloading a certificate is free and doesn’t require an account. You only pay when you book a new assessment.
Search the register using your postcode. If a certificate has been lodged in the last 10 years it will show as valid. Older certificates show as expired, and if nothing appears, the property may never have had one.
Search the register by postcode, select your address and open the certificate. The rating (A to G) and the score (1 to 100) appear at the top, along with the rating the property could achieve.
Yes. The register is public, so you can check the rating of any property in England, Wales or Northern Ireland. It’s a useful check before buying a buy-to-let or renting a home.
10 years from the date it was issued. The government considered shortening this to five years but decided to keep the 10-year validity.
Usually a few days after the assessment, once the assessor has lodged it.
No. Commercial EPCs are on the same GOV.UK service. Choose the non-domestic search option.
It’s the PRS exemptions register, where landlords record why a property below the minimum rating can still be let legally. Anyone can search it on GOV.UK.
Last Updated on September 25, 2026