FAQ
EPC FAQ: common questions, answered plainly
The things people actually ring up and ask, grouped by when they tend to ask them. If yours is not here, call or WhatsApp me on +44 7386 645915 and you will get a straight answer rather than a callback form.
Before you book
When is an EPC legally required?
Whenever a property is marketed for sale or rent in England and Wales, and at the start of a new tenancy. It must be commissioned before marketing begins, not after an offer comes in.
How do I find an accredited EPC assessor near me?
Any Energy Performance Certificate must be produced by an assessor registered with an approved scheme. I am accredited with two schemes: Elmhurst Energy, number EES/036245, and Quidos, number QUID202194. You can look me up on the government’s own register before booking. Covering all London boroughs means “near me” is usually the same day.
Can I get a same-day EPC in London?
Often, yes. Same-day and next-day slots are regularly available across London. The certificate can be lodged on the day of the visit for £10 more, a next-day visit with it lodged that same day is £20 more, and a same-day visit, booked before 3pm, is £25 more. More on same-day and next-day EPCs. Call +44 7386 645915 or message on WhatsApp and I’ll tell you straight away what’s free.
On the day
How long does an EPC visit take?
Typically 30–45 minutes for a flat or standard house. The assessor needs access to all rooms, the loft hatch and the boiler.
What do you need access to?
Every room, including any loft space, plus the boiler, the hot water cylinder if there is one, and the meters. If the loft hatch is screwed shut or the boiler is boxed in, let me know beforehand so the visit is not wasted.
Does anyone need to be there?
Someone needs to let me in and give me access to the whole property. That can be you, a tenant, or an agent with keys — whatever suits. If the property is tenanted, just give your tenant a heads up about the visit beforehand.
Do I need to tidy up first?
A quick tidy helps, yes. It is not about how the place looks — it is about reaching things. I need to get to every window, every radiator and the heating system, so if a sofa is pushed against a radiator or a bed is under a window, please move it beforehand. Clearing the way in advance keeps the visit short and means nothing has to be recorded as inaccessible.
After the visit
How long is an EPC valid?
Ten years from the date of lodgement, and the certificate stays with the property rather than with you. To see when yours runs out, try the EPC expiry checker; if it lapses while a tenant is in, here is what to do when an EPC expires during a tenancy.
How quickly do I get the certificate?
Lodged on the Gov.uk register within 72 hours as standard, and emailed to you as a PDF the moment it is on there. If a listing is waiting on it, same-day lodgement is +£10, a next-day visit with it lodged that day is +£20, and a same-day visit booked before 3pm is +£25, charged once per booking.
Landlords and agents
What EPC rating do landlords need?
Under the Minimum Energy Efficiency Standards, most rented homes must reach band E or above unless a valid exemption is registered.
Do I need an EPC for a landlord licence in East London?
Usually, yes. Most East London boroughs now license privately rented homes, and Newham, Redbridge, Barking and Dagenham and Havering all ask for a current EPC with the application. Some also tie the fee to the rating or ask for every room size. The local rules are on my pages for Newham, Ilford, Walthamstow, Dagenham and Romford.
Do you work with letting agents on multiple properties?
Regularly. If you have several of your own properties in the same area they can be grouped into one visit, with volume rates from five properties a month and one consolidated invoice showing a per-property breakdown. For tenanted properties, just give the tenant a heads up about the visit and let me know the arrangements.
Do you provide floor plans for estate agents?
Yes — laser-measured 2D floor plans drawn to Rightmove and Zoopla specification, supplied as JPG and PDF, with optional agency branding. Bundled with an EPC on the same visit they work out cheaper than booking each separately.
What happens if the property scores below E?
The certificate comes with a list of recommended improvements and what each would do to the score. I will talk you through which ones are actually worth doing for your property rather than leaving you with a generic list, or put it in writing as an Improvement Plan for +£30. If you think the rating itself is wrong, here is how to challenge an EPC.
Still not sure what you need?
Tell me about the property and I will tell you which package fits — or whether you need anything at all.