Ace ServicesGet Quotes
Get Quotes

EPC expiry and minimum rating checker

Enter the date and rating on the energy performance certificate and see when it expires and whether the property can legally be let at that rating. Free, no sign-up.

Enter the date and rating from the certificate to see when it expires and whether the property can be let at that rating.

The rules the checker applies

  • An energy performance certificate is valid for ten years from the date it is issued.
  • A valid EPC is needed whenever the property is marketed or let to a new tenant, and the tenant must be given a copy free of charge.
  • The minimum rating to let is E. It has applied to new tenancies since 1 April 2018 and to all tenancies since 1 April 2020.
  • A property rated F or G cannot be let unless a valid exemption is registered on the PRS Exemptions Register. Exemptions last five years.
  • A rise in the minimum to C has been proposed for 2028 to 2030. It is not yet law, and the checker applies the current minimum of E.

Energy Performance of Buildings (England and Wales) Regulations 2012; Energy Efficiency (Private Rented Property) (England and Wales) Regulations 2015.

Common questions

How long is an EPC valid for?

Ten years from the date it is issued. A landlord needs a valid energy performance certificate whenever a property is marketed or let to a new tenant, and must give the tenant a copy free of charge. If the certificate expires during a tenancy, a new one is needed before the property is next let, not on the day it expires.

What is the minimum EPC rating to let a property?

E. Since 1 April 2018 a property has needed a rating of E or better for any new tenancy or renewal, and since 1 April 2020 for all existing tenancies too. A property rated F or G cannot be let unless a valid exemption is registered on the PRS Exemptions Register.

Is the minimum EPC rating going up to C?

It has been proposed, not yet made law. The government consulted in 2025 on raising the minimum to C for new tenancies from 2028 and all tenancies by 2030. Until regulations are made, the legal minimum remains E. This page will be updated when that changes.

What are the exemptions from the minimum EPC rating?

A landlord can register an exemption where all improvements that can be made within the £3,500 cost cap, including VAT, have been made and the rating is still below E; where the only improvements are wall insulation that would damage the property; where a tenant, lender or planning consent needed cannot be obtained; where improvements would reduce the property's value by more than 5%; or for six months after becoming a landlord unexpectedly. Exemptions last five years and must be on the PRS Exemptions Register before they apply.

What is the penalty for letting a property rated F or G?

The local authority can fine a landlord up to £5,000 per property for letting a property that does not meet the minimum standard, and publish details of the breach. Failing to have an EPC at all when a property is let is a separate offence with a fixed penalty.

Does this apply in Wales and Scotland?

The minimum rating of E applies in England and Wales. Scotland has its own EPC system and its own proposals for minimum standards in the private rented sector. This checker applies the England and Wales rules.