Two things make the biggest difference on the day: being able to reach everything, and having paperwork for any work that cannot be seen. The first stops a second visit. The second stops the assessment assuming the worst.
The places I need to reach
Before I arrive, make sure these are clear:
- Every room, including any box room, utility room or storage room you rarely use. Each one is measured.
- The loft hatch, with nothing stacked under it, so I can see the insulation and how deep it is.
- The boiler, any hot water cylinder and the heating controls, including thermostats and timers.
- Every window and external door. Every window is measured now, so curtains and blinds that can be moved help.
- The radiators, even the ones behind sofas and beds.
- The light fittings. The bulbs themselves are counted now, along with which of them are LEDs.
- The gas and electricity meters, and the key to the cupboard if they are in a shared one.
The paperwork worth finding
Where an improvement cannot be seen or proved, the method records the worst reasonable case for the home’s age and construction. A filled cavity with no paperwork can go down as empty. Anything below can change that:
| Cavity wall insulation | The guarantee or installation certificate |
|---|---|
| Loft insulation | Receipts, especially if the loft is boarded and the depth cannot be seen |
| Boiler and heating | The installation certificate and service records |
| Windows and doors | Installation paperwork, showing when the glazing went in |
| Solar panels or a heat pump | The installation documents |
| Wall insulation, airtightness, a new cylinder | Documents giving the insulation’s thickness, an air pressure test result, or the cylinder’s specification |
The last row reflects what RdSAP 10, the method in use since June 2025, can take from documents (Elmhurst Energy, “SAP 10 analysis of changes”, May 2025). Have anything you find to hand on the day.
Letting me in
Just someone to let me in and show me round: you, a tenant, or an agent with keys. If the home is tenanted, give your tenant a heads up, or send me their details and I will agree the time with them. Evenings and weekends cost the same as weekdays.
What you do not need to do
- Tidy up. I need to reach things, not see a show home.
- Turn the heating up or down. An EPC rates the building, not how you use it, so the thermostat setting makes no difference.
- Gather your bills. Your actual energy use is not part of the calculation.
One thing that does count on the day: swapping old halogen bulbs for LEDs. Do it the week before if you like. How to improve your EPC rating covers the other cheap wins.
During the visit
The visit takes 30 to 45 minutes for a flat or a typical house. I measure every room with a laser and record the walls, loft, windows, heating, hot water and lighting. What happens during an EPC assessment goes through it step by step.
After the visit
- Your EPC is lodged on the government register within 72 hours, or that day if you chose same-day lodgement or a next-day visit, and emailed to you as a PDF.
- A floor plan, if you booked one, comes as a JPG and a PDF, usually the next working day.
- An Improvement Plan, if you added one, arrives within 72 hours.
- Payment is taken after the visit, by card or cash.
Common questions
How long does an EPC visit take?
Usually 30 to 45 minutes for a flat or a typical house, when every room, the loft hatch, the boiler and the meters can be reached.
Do I need to be at home for the EPC?
Someone needs to let me in and give me access to the whole home. That can be you, a tenant, or an agent with keys.
What documents should I have ready?
Anything for work that cannot be seen: a cavity wall insulation guarantee, loft insulation receipts, the boiler installation certificate and service records, window installation paperwork, and documents for solar panels or a heat pump.
Should I turn the heating on before the assessment?
It makes no difference. An EPC rates the building and its fixed heating, not how warm you keep it.
What if I need to move the visit?
Tell me as early as you can, by call, message or email, and we will find another time.
Where to go next
The visit, step by step, what your rating means, and how to reach me.