How to get an EPC certificate

Why should I get an EPC?

An EPC is a home energy survey that shows you how energy efficient your home is and includes a list of recommendations on how to improve your energy efficiency. It’s a legal requirement to have an EPC if you're selling, leasing or renting a property. But even if you're not selling your home, it's worth having a look at your property's EPC to find out what you can do to reduce your energy bills and carbon emissions.

An EPC will give your property an energy rating from A (very efficient) to G (inefficient) and is valid for 10 years. You can access any home's EPC through the government's website.

How can a good EPC rating benefit me?

Lower energy bills - adding more energy efficient measures to your home will lower your consumption and therefore reduce your energy bills.
Improve property value - if you're considering selling your property, then improving the energy rating will also likely improve the value.
Lower mortgage - it may be possible to achieve lower mortgage rates through green mortgages.(1)
Lower your carbon footprint - increasing your properties energy efficiency will lower your carbon emissions.

Get an EPC

Getting an EPC through EDF

Our job doesn't stop after the EPC is issued.

Getting an EPC through EDF means we’ll be with you from start to finish. After you receive your EPC, we'll be in contact to help you with any recommendations you've received, by getting you in touch with our preferred installers. This means you can avoid the hassle of contacting lots of different companies for quotes. Whether it's increasing your loft insulation or installing solar panels, you can do it all through EDF.

EPCs you can trust

We’re working with The Eco Scheme – a company who is committed to helping the UK become more energy efficient. We are offering EPCs for a fixed fee of £79 - regardless of where you are or the size of your home. The Eco Scheme is nationwide and all surveyors are trained to a high standard. They are TrustMark certified, the Government Endorsed Quality Scheme. So don't worry, you'll be in good hands.

How to improve your EPC rating

Improving your EPC rating means improving your home's energy efficiency. It also means you could reduce your energy bills, make your home warmer and more comfortable and increase its value and reduce your carbon footprint. Here are some of the ways to improve your EPC:

Loft insulation - it's easy to install, inexpensive and can make a huge difference to your bills. Install loft insulation that's at least 270mm thick.
Wall insulation - whether your home has cavity or solid walls, insulating them can improve your EPC rating.
Replace your boiler - you can cut your energy bills with a new, energy-efficient boiler.
Solar panels - these produce cheaper, greener energy.
Double glazing - upgrading your windows and doors won't just improve your home's energy performance, it can reduce noise too.
An efficient secondary heating source - installing a wood-burning stove instead of an open fireplace can give you greater fuel efficiency and reduced costs in the long run.

FAQs

Who needs an EPC?

If you’re buying or renting, it’s a legal requirement for the seller or landlord to arrange for an EPC. Do make sure that you - as the buyer or tenant - see and understand the certificate. The rating can impact how much your new home will cost. And if you're renting you know what to expect from energy bills plus the EPC must not be below E. If you're buying a new build, the developer is responsible for getting the EPC.
If you're applying for government funding e.g. the Boiler Upgrade Scheme.
If you’re applying for a buy to let mortgage.
Anyone wanting to lower their carbon footprint and reduce their energy bills should consider getting an EPC.

How long does it take to get an EPC?

1. After completing the form you’ll receive a call back within 48 hours

2. Your survey will then take place within 10 days

3. The actual assessment may take up to 1 hour depending on the size of your home. The assessment will involve:

taking internal and external photographs
assessing heating, ventilation and insulation
a discussion with the surveyor – they’ll be able to give you guidance on energy efficiency measures

4. You’ll receive your EPC the day after the assessment

What do the ratings mean?

Your EPC will have two main charts with the rating bands. The bands go from A to G, with A being the best rating your home can have, and G being the worst. In the chart, you can see the current rating and potential rating, if you were to carry out the recommended home improvement. The numbers in each rating reflect the government's Standard Assessment Procedure (SAP) and go from 1 to 100 SAP points. These scores are divided into bands as follows:

EPC rating A = 92-100 SAP points (most efficient)

EPC rating B = 81-91 SAP points

EPC rating C = 69-80 SAP points

EPC rating D = 55-68 SAP points

EPC rating E = 39-54 SAP points

EPC rating F = 21-38 SAP points

EPC rating G = 1-20 SAP points (least efficient)

What do the recommendations mean?

The recommendations on your EPC are a list of improvements you can carry out to make your home more energy efficient. They are listed in order of importance and the number of recommendations will vary depending on the property.

Why is my property not A Rated? I don't waste energy.

There are many things that can affect your EPC rating, but it's worth knowing that your rating has more to do with your property than your lifestyle. With the UK having the leakiest homes in western Europe(2), it's quite hard to achieve an A-rating. You may not waste energy, but if your home is poorly insulated, or if you have no heating, or old electric-only heating, your EPC rating may be lower than you expect.

If you want to improve your EPC rating, the best thing to do is to look at your recommendations and see if there are any you could carry it out.

Can you send the EPC to me?

Yes. Once your EPC is completed, we'll send you a link to the EPC register where you'll be able to view your certificate.

Do listed buildings need an EPC?

Since 2013, listed buildings have been exempt from EPCs, provided they reach certain minimum standards for energy performance. Ironically, the best way to check whether your property meets these standards is to get an EPC. If your listed building already had an EPC before 2013, you will have to make sure it has an E rating before you can rent it out. This may require some changes.

Many common EPC-recommended measures, such as installing insulation or double glazing, can harm the authenticity of a listed building, so it's understandable if you want to try and avoid these. You could opt for other improvements that have minimal effect to the aesthetics or structural integrity of a listed building. These include switching to a low carbon energy source, installing a more efficient boiler and draught-proofing.

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Get an Energy Performance Certificate for just £79