If your EPC runs out while a tenant is living in the property, you do not have to replace it for that tenancy. An EPC is needed when a property is put on the market to sell or let, so the question comes back when you look for a new tenant: you need a valid certificate before you advertise, and the new tenant must be given a copy.
Why an expired EPC is not a breach mid-tenancy
The EPC rules attach to a property being sold or rented out. Prospective tenants must be able to see a valid certificate, and the person who becomes the tenant must be given one, free of charge. Your current tenant should have been given theirs when the tenancy began; nothing in the regulations makes you renew the certificate while that tenancy carries on.
What changed on 1 May 2026
Under the Renters’ Rights Act 2025, most assured shorthold tenancies in England became assured periodic tenancies on 1 May 2026. Fixed terms that were running converted automatically, and tenancies now roll on with no end date, so there is no renewal date to plan an EPC around. The point that matters is a new tenant.
Band E still matters
Since 1 April 2020 you cannot let, or continue to let, a home covered by the minimum energy efficiency standard if it is rated F or G, unless a valid exemption has been registered. Penalties run up to £5,000 per property.
Whether the standard reaches a property whose certificate has lapsed mid-tenancy is a technical question, and not one to build a plan on. What is certain is that it applies again the moment you need a new certificate to re-let. If the last rating was F or G, bring the property up to E or register an exemption before the next tenancy — the rules for landlords cover both.
When you do need a new EPC
- Before you advertise for a new tenant. It has to be ordered from an accredited assessor before the property goes on the market and should be in hand within 7 days, with a further 21 days allowed only if that proves impossible. The new tenant must be given a copy free of charge.
- Before you sell. The same rules apply to a sale — see do you need an EPC to sell your house.
You can check when yours expires by postcode on the government’s find an energy certificate service.
Is it worth renewing early?
Often, for practical reasons rather than legal ones:
- No gap when the tenant gives notice. The listing can go live straight away instead of waiting for an assessment.
- Improvements get counted. If you have replaced the boiler, added insulation or changed the windows since the last assessment, the old certificate may understate the property. How to improve your EPC rating covers what counts and what paperwork helps.
- You know where you stand. Tighter standards for rented homes have been proposed more than once; a current rating tells you how far the property is from them.
The visit takes 30 to 45 minutes and needs access to every room, the loft hatch, the boiler and the meters. Give your tenant a heads up about the visit and tell me the arrangements — that is all it takes.
What I charge
- Domestic EPC — from £59
- EPC + floor plan — from £99, in one visit
- Floor plan only — from £75
Every job is quoted in writing before it is booked, and landlords and agents with five or more properties a month get volume rates. Full pricing.
Common questions
Do I need a new EPC if my tenant stays on?
No. A tenant staying on does not require a new certificate. You need a valid EPC again when you advertise the property to a new tenant.
Can I let to a new tenant with an expired EPC?
No. A valid EPC has to be ordered before the property is advertised, and the new tenant must be given a copy free of charge.
Does band E still apply if my EPC has expired?
It applies again as soon as you need a new certificate to re-let, so an F or G rating has to be dealt with before the next tenancy either way.
Can I charge my tenant for a new EPC?
No. In England the Tenant Fees Act 2019 stops landlords and agents charging tenants for it.
How long does a new EPC take?
The visit takes 30 to 45 minutes for a typical flat or house, and the certificate is lodged within 72 hours as standard.
Where to go next
The minimum standard and how exemptions work, and what an EPC should cost in London.