Most of the work in a landlord’s EPC is getting through the door. The survey is the easy part. What holds things up is a tenant who was not told, keys in the wrong place or a loft hatch behind a wardrobe, so that is where I start.
How a visit to a tenanted home works
- You send the address and the tenant’s details, or tell me you would rather arrange the time yourself.
- I agree a time with the tenant, evenings and weekends included, at no extra cost, and confirm it to you in writing.
- The visit takes 30 to 45 minutes. I need every room, the loft hatch, the boiler and the meters. Your tenant, your agent or you can let me in. What happens during the visit.
- The certificate is lodged within 72 hours and emailed to you as a PDF. A new tenant must be given a copy, free of charge.
If a tenancy is about to start and the certificate cannot wait, same-day lodgement (+£10), next-day visits (+£20) and same-day visits booked before 3pm (+£25) are on the same-day page.
The rules, in short
- Before you advertise: the EPC has to be ordered before the property is marketed to tenants.
- Band E: a rented home covered by the minimum standard must be rated E or above, unless an exemption is registered. Penalties run up to £5,000 per property.
- Who pays: you do. In England the Tenant Fees Act 2019 stops landlords and agents charging tenants for it.
- 2030: the government has decided on a higher standard for every tenancy from 1 October 2030, subject to Parliament.
The full picture, with exemptions and the paperwork that changes scores, is in EPC rules for landlords, and what has been decided for 2030 is in EPC C by 2030. For shared houses, see HMO EPC requirements.
More than one property
If you own several homes in the same area, they can be grouped into a single visit rather than booked one at a time. From five properties a month there are volume rates, on one invoice with a line for each property. Pick Several properties on the quote form and give me a rough number; a list of addresses helps but is optional.
Licences
Many London councils license privately rented homes, and some ask for a current EPC with the application. A few ask for more: Newham also wants every room size in square metres, which a measured floor plan records in the same visit, from £123 for both. Each borough page sets out that council’s scheme, fees and documents.
If the rating is close to the line
Paperwork matters more than people expect. Insulation that cannot be seen or proved is recorded as the worst reasonable case for the home’s age and construction, so find the cavity wall guarantee, loft receipts and boiler certificates before the visit. If you want to know what would lift the rating, add an Improvement Plan for £30, or have the survey and plan without lodging anything first.
Prices
| EPC | From £69, by the size of the home |
|---|---|
| EPC + floor plan | From £123, in one visit |
| Improvement Plan | +£30 with an EPC |
| Several properties | Volume rates from five a month, one invoice |
| Payment | After the visit, by card or cash |
No VAT on top and no travel charge anywhere in Greater London. Every job is quoted in writing before it is booked. Full pricing.
Common questions
Can you arrange the EPC visit with my tenant?
Yes. Send me the tenant’s details and I will agree a time with them directly, evenings and weekends included, and confirm it to you in writing.
Does each new tenancy need a new EPC?
No. A certificate lasts ten years, and you can give each new tenant a copy of the same one while it is valid. You need a new one once it has expired and you want to let the home again.
Can several of my properties be done in one visit?
Yes, if they are in the same area. From five properties a month there are volume rates, on one invoice with a line for each property.
Can I charge my tenant for the EPC?
No. In England the Tenant Fees Act 2019 stops landlords and agents charging tenants for it.
What if my rental is rated F or G?
It cannot be let until it reaches E or an exemption is registered. The landlords’ guide explains both routes, and an Improvement Plan shows what would lift the rating.
Where to go next
An EPC that expired during a tenancy, how homes in your borough score, and working with letting agents.
Sources for the rules on this page: GOV.UK, minimum energy efficiency standard: landlord guidance (updated 5 May 2026); GOV.UK, Improving the energy performance of privately rented homes: government response (21 January 2026), for what is planned for 2030. Links checked 4 November 2026.