Do You Need an EPC
to Sell a House?
Yes, in almost all cases. UK law requires sellers to commission an EPC within 7 days of putting a property on the market. The EPC must be available to potential buyers before completion. Penalties for non-compliance are up to £200 enforced by Trading Standards.
Yes. Under the Energy Performance of Buildings (England plus Wales) Regulations 2012, sellers must commission an EPC within 7 days of marketing the property. The EPC must be made available free of charge to any prospective buyer. The EPC rating plus a copy must be included in any sales particulars. Failure to comply can lead to a £200 penalty per breach enforced by local Trading Standards. EPCs are valid for 10 years plus an existing valid EPC can be reused for a sale. Limited exemptions exist for listed buildings (where compliance would unacceptably alter character), places of worship, temporary buildings used for under 2 years plus standalone buildings under 50 square metres.
The figures that matter
Commission deadline
Maximum time after marketing starts to commission the EPC under the 2012 Regulations.
EPC validity
Existing EPCs can be reused for sale if less than 10 years old at point of marketing.
Typical EPC cost
Standard cost for a Domestic Energy Assessor visit plus EPC issue for a UK home.
Penalty
Trading Standards penalty per breach for marketing without commissioning an EPC.
Four things to consider
EPC must be commissioned within 7 days
Of marketing the property. Most estate agents handle this automatically as part of their service.
Existing EPC can be reused
If less than 10 years old at point of sale. Saves £60 to £150 plus assessment time.
EPC must be in sales particulars
The rating plus EPC must accompany sales materials shown to prospective buyers.
Limited exemptions exist
Listed buildings (character test), places of worship, temporary buildings, very small standalone buildings.
What sellers actually need to do about EPCs
Selling a UK home means dealing with EPCs. The rules are tight on timing but flexible on assessor choice. Here is what every seller in England plus Wales needs to know.
The 7-day rule. Under Regulation 6 of the Energy Performance of Buildings (England plus Wales) Regulations 2012, sellers must commission an EPC within 7 days of marketing the property. Marketing means listing the property for sale through an estate agent, online property portal or for-sale sign on the property. The 7-day window covers the time to find a Domestic Energy Assessor plus book a visit, not the time to complete the assessment plus issue the EPC.
What counts as commissioning. Commissioning means formally instructing an accredited Domestic Energy Assessor to carry out the assessment. It does not require the assessment itself to be complete within 7 days. Most assessments take 30 to 60 minutes on site plus the EPC is typically issued within 24 to 72 hours afterwards. The 7-day clock starts from marketing, not from contract.
What if I already have an EPC? EPCs are valid for 10 years from issue. If your property has a valid EPC less than 10 years old, you can reuse it for the sale. No new assessment needed. Search the EPC Register at epcregister.com using the property postcode to check.
The EPC must be free to buyers. Sellers must provide the EPC free of charge to any prospective buyer who asks. The EPC rating must also be displayed in property advertising. Online portals like Rightmove plus Zoopla automatically display the EPC rating from the EPC Register. Estate agent sales particulars must include the EPC rating plus typically a link or copy of the full EPC document.
Exemptions to the EPC requirement for sale:
- Listed buildings. Where compliance with minimum energy performance requirements would unacceptably alter character or appearance. Not automatic. Each property assessed individually.
- Places of worship plus religious buildings. Used for religious activities.
- Temporary buildings. Used for less than 2 years.
- Industrial sites, workshops, non-residential agricultural buildings. With low energy demand.
- Standalone buildings. Total useful floor space less than 50 square metres.
- Buildings due for demolition. If the seller has applied for relevant planning consent or demolition consent.
- Holiday lets. Used for less than 4 months per year (this is the holiday let exemption, not full residential).
Penalties for non-compliance. Trading Standards enforces the EPC requirement for sales. Penalties are typically £200 per breach for residential properties. Higher penalties apply for non-residential. The Trading Standards officer can also serve a written request requiring the seller to commission an EPC plus comply within a deadline.
Practical guidance for sellers:
- Check existing EPC on the EPC Register before booking an assessor. Save the cost if a valid EPC already exists.
- If commissioning new, book an accredited Domestic Energy Assessor. Cost £60 to £150 typical.
- Allow 24 to 72 hours from assessment to EPC issue.
- If your property has been improved since the last EPC (new boiler, insulation, double glazing), commission a fresh EPC even if the old one is valid. The new rating may be higher plus help the sale.
- If your property is rated F or G, consider improvements before listing. Buyers increasingly factor EPC ratings into offers.
Real number ranges
Typical EPC plus selling costs
How EPC fits into a typical UK house sale
Check existing EPC
Search EPC Register at epcregister.com. If valid plus accurate, no new assessment needed.
Commission if needed
Within 7 days of marketing, commission an accredited Domestic Energy Assessor if no valid EPC exists.
Assessor visit plus EPC issued
Assessor visits 30 to 60 minutes. EPC issued within 24 to 72 hours plus added to the EPC Register.
EPC available to buyers
EPC rating displayed in adverts plus sales particulars. Full EPC provided free to any buyer who asks.
Four EPC steps every seller should take
Check the EPC Register first
Search by property postcode. If valid EPC exists, no need for a new assessment plus no extra cost.
Commission within 7 days
Of starting to market. Most estate agents handle this automatically. DIY sellers need to track the deadline.
Update if you have improved the property
New boiler, insulation or glazing since the last EPC may improve the rating significantly. Worth a fresh assessment.
Provide free copy to buyers
Any prospective buyer can request the full EPC document free of charge. Refusing breaches the 2012 Regulations.
Compare the options
Selling with valid current EPC
- ✓Compliant with 2012 Regulations on day one of marketing.
- ✓EPC rating in adverts plus sales particulars.
- ✓Free copy available to buyers on request.
- ✓No Trading Standards risk.
- ✓Buyers can factor rating into offer early in process.
Selling without an EPC
- ✗Breach of 2012 Regulations from day 8 of marketing.
- ✗EPC missing from adverts. Estate agents typically refuse to market.
- ✗Cannot provide to buyers who request before commissioning.
- ✗£200 penalty per breach from Trading Standards.
- ✗Sale delays while EPC commissioned plus issued.
Selling without an EPC is one of the most common compliance failures we see. Our full EPC Ratings hub covers Energy Performance Certificates plus MEES regulations across UK homes plus rental properties.
Visit the EPC Ratings Hub
This article is one chapter inside our complete EPC Ratings knowledge base. The hub covers Energy Performance Certificates plus MEES regulations across UK homes plus rental properties.
More on EPC ratings
Three further EPC sale plus tenancy articles in the same hub group cover related questions. The first is how do i get an epc certificate for the assessment process. The second covers how much is an epc for the cost question. The third is how long does an epc certificate last for the validity period.