How long is an EPC valid for? - Richard Kendall Estate Agents

An Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) is one of the key documents you’ll need when selling your home. In this article, we’ll cover everything you need to know about the duration of your home’s EPC and its importance in the selling process.

What is an EPC?

An EPC provides a rating of your home’s energy efficiency and its environmental impact. The rating ranges from ‘A’ (most efficient) to ‘G’ (least efficient) and includes recommendations for improving energy efficiency. The certificate helps potential buyers understand the energy performance of the property they are considering buying, as this will dictate how much it costs to run said property.

How long is an EPC valid for?

Once your home been issued its EPC rating, it will be valid for 10 years. This means that if you have an EPC rating that was issued within the last decade, you can use it to sell your property without needing a new assessment. However, if your EPC is older than 10 years, you’ll need to commission a new one before you can place your home on the market.

Checking your EPC’s validity

You can refer to the certificate itself to check if your EPC is still valid as it should state the date of issue and the expiry date. Additionally, you can look up your property’s EPC through GOV.uk, where you can download a copy of the certificate and verify its validity.

When should I get a new EPC?

Even though EPCs have a 10-year life-span, there are circumstances when you might consider getting a new one before selling your home:

Renovations – If you have made significant energy efficiency improvements to your home, such as double glazing, installing a new boiler, or insulation, a new EPC could reflect these changes and provide a better rating.
Marketing to buyers – If potential buyers express concern about the current EPC rating, an updated assessment might help reassure them of the property’s efficiency.
Standing out in a busy market – In a competitive market, having an up-to-date EPC with a good rating can make your property stand out from the rest.

Times when EPC's are exempt

Certain properties are exempt from requiring an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) under UK regulations. These include listed buildings or those in conservation areas where energy efficiency improvements would unacceptably alter their character or appearance. Additionally, buildings with a total floor area of under 50 square metres, non-residential agricultural buildings, places of worship, and temporary structures used for less than two years do not require an EPC. Richard Kendall Estate Agent can help clarify whether a specific property falls under any of these exemptions, ensuring compliance with EPC regulations while preserving the unique nature of special properties.

How to get a new EPC

You can obtain an up-to-date EPC rating by contacting any of our local offices, here at Richard Kendall we have qualified Domestic Energy Assessor (DEA). The Energy Performance assessment can be carried out at the same time as the photographs in preparation to listing the property for sale to ensure compliance with legal requirements and to leave some time to make cost-effective improvements.

If you require an EPC on your property telephone us today - We can help!

What Our Customers Say...

I recently sold a property with Elizabeth Cooke as the property consultant and the service has been nothing short of exceptional. Great feedback during the listing phase to keep interest in the property, through to weekly updates and A+ chasing of the chain to keep everything on track in the sale phase. Highly recommend, you're in safe hands here. Stephen 03/02/2026

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Karen Marijewko was excellent and provided us with weekly updates during a difficult sale due to changes in deeds. Thanks for all your help Michael 03/02/2026

Sarah and the team at Normanton has been great with our sale, kept us up to date with proceedings both up and down the chain. Thanks for all the effort Sarah. Lodewikus 03/02/2026

Leah was absolutely amazing throughout my whole house buying process. From start to finish she chased things up and updated me, always had good communication and answered any questions/queries I had promptly. Can’t fault the service at all from Leah, thank you again! Would definitely recommend. Elise 03/02/2026

Liz constantly provided an exceptional service. We had good communication with prompt follow up with all our queries related to the house we were buying. Liz was friendly and helpful throughout the whole process. Thank you Liz. AM 03/02/2026

Quick sale (did we price too low?) but everything went through within weeks. Mandy kept us updated throughout the process. We are now living the life by the coast. Happy retirement to us. Edward 03/02/2026

Alison has been fantastic throughout our home buying journey. As first time buyers, we had plenty of questions, and she supported us every step of the way. She chased things up promptly, kept us updated without us ever needing to ask, and made the whole process feel much less stressful. We’d definitely recommend Richard Kendall and especially Alison to anyone looking for a reliable and supportive estate agent. Hayden 03/02/2026

I cannot recommend Richard Kendall enough, I would urge anyone who is looking to sell their home to use this estate agents. We had previously used 2 estate agents prior to using Richard Kendall, I wish we had gone with Kendalls from the start. Friendly, approachable, will help advise you in all matters. Other estate agents need to benchmark themselves against Richard Kendalls. Jo 03/02/2026

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