How to Check the EPC Register Online in the UK
2 November 2026
How to Check the EPC Register Online: UK Energy Certificate Search
To check a property’s Energy Performance Certificate, search the official register using its postcode, street name and town, or certificate number. The GOV.UK search covers properties in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. Scotland has a separate EPC register, which the GOV.UK service directs you to.
Once you find the report, check the property address, current energy rating, assessment date and expiry date. An EPC is usually valid for 10 years, or until a newer certificate is issued for the same property.
Find an EPC: Open the official search, enter the property’s postcode, select the matching address and open the latest certificate.
Search the official EPC register
This GOV.UK search is for England, Wales and Northern Ireland. For a Scottish property, use the Scottish service linked from the GOV.UK page.
How to check the EPC register by postcode
Open the official search. Use the button above. If the property is in Scotland, follow the separate Scottish register route shown on the GOV.UK page.
Enter the postcode. Search using the postcode, or use the street name and town or certificate number if that is easier.
Select the right property. Check the house number, flat number and address carefully. A postcode can return several homes or certificates.
Open the latest report. Confirm that the address matches and check the certificate’s assessment and expiry dates.
Save the report details. Note the certificate reference number and download the report if you need it for a property purchase, tenancy or improvement application.
If you are checking a flat, make sure you have opened the certificate for the individual flat rather than the whole building or a neighbouring address. The same postcode can cover multiple dwellings, and an EPC for one unit does not represent every home in the block.
What do the EPC rating and score mean?
Domestic EPCs use an A to G scale. Band A represents the highest energy efficiency rating and band G the lowest. The report also gives a numerical score, which helps show where the property sits within its letter band.
Many reports show both a current rating and a potential rating. The current rating reflects the assessment of the property as it was inspected. The potential rating is a modelled estimate based on recommended improvements. It is not a guarantee that the home will reach that rating, or that the work will cost or save a particular amount.
Read the recommendations alongside the headline band. They can suggest measures such as insulation or heating changes, but the EPC uses standard assumptions about how a home is occupied and heated. It is not a prediction of your household’s exact energy bills.
The report can still be useful when planning work. For practical ways to reduce heat loss, see InstantCost’s guide to keeping a poorly insulated house warm.
How long is an EPC valid?
An EPC is generally valid for 10 years. You can reuse it during that period when the property is sold or rented, unless a newer EPC has been produced. If a new certificate is lodged, it becomes the latest report to check.
You can choose to commission a new EPC after making substantial energy improvements, even if the existing one has not expired. This may help the register reflect the home’s updated condition, but an updated report is not automatically required after every improvement.
What if the property is not on the EPC register?
A missing search result does not always mean that an EPC has never existed. Before arranging a new assessment, check these points:
Check the postcode and address spelling, including the flat or unit number.
Try searching by street name and town, or use the certificate number if you have a copy.
For a property in Scotland, use the separate Scottish search route.
Check whether you opened the correct property record, especially in a block of flats.
If a new EPC was recently commissioned, ask the assessor or seller whether it has been lodged yet.
If you still cannot find a valid certificate, the property may not have one, the record may not be available in that search, or an exception may apply. If you are preparing to sell or rent the property, check the applicable requirements before marketing it. If a valid EPC is needed and there is no report, you will generally need to arrange an assessment with an accredited assessor.
GOV.UK lists some cases where an EPC may not be required, including certain temporary buildings, places of worship and some buildings due for demolition. The rules depend on the property and circumstances, so do not assume an exemption applies simply because a search returns no result.
When is an EPC legally required?
In most cases, an EPC is required when a property is built, sold or rented out. For a sale or rental, the EPC must be commissioned before the property is marketed. There are exceptions, so check the relevant rules for the property rather than relying on the search result alone.
Scotland has its own EPC regulations. For example, its requirements include providing an EPC when a home is sold or let to a new tenant, and displaying it in certain circumstances. The GOV.UK search page explains that Scottish properties use a different register.
Do grant applications always require an EPC?
No. Some home-upgrade programmes use an EPC rating as part of eligibility, while others have different evidence requirements. Check the rules for the specific scheme and application date. For example, the Boiler Upgrade Scheme no longer requires a valid EPC for applications made from 28 April 2026. Do not assume that the rules for one grant apply to another.
Some local energy programmes use EPC bands to identify homes that may qualify. InstantCost explains the general process in its guides to the Warm Homes Local Grant and the Warm Homes Plan. Confirm eligibility with the relevant council or scheme before arranging work.
Planning an energy upgrade?
Use the heating calculator to estimate costs for boiler and heating work before comparing local quotes.
Estimate boiler and heating costs
InstantCost provides price estimates. It does not issue EPCs or book domestic energy assessors.
How do you get a new EPC or find an assessor?
If the property needs a new certificate, use an accredited domestic energy assessor. Ask for their accreditation details, confirm the total price and check what the assessment includes. The assessor should explain what rooms and features they need to inspect and provide the report reference once the certificate has been lodged.
Do not confuse a free register search with a new EPC assessment. The search lets you retrieve an existing report. A new certificate requires an assessor to inspect and assess the property.
If an EPC recommends heating changes, you can compare related options using InstantCost’s heat pump installation calculator, solar panel cost calculator or boiler and heating cost calculator. These estimates can help with budgeting, but they do not replace an assessment of the property or grant approval.
Frequently asked questions
Can I check an EPC by postcode for free?
Yes. The official register lets you search for an existing certificate by postcode. You can also search by street name and town or by certificate number.
Can I check someone else’s EPC?
The public search can be used to find a property’s certificate. Make sure you select the correct address, particularly where a postcode contains several flats or houses.
Can I use an EPC that is more than five years old?
An EPC is generally valid for 10 years, not five, unless a newer certificate has been issued. Some schemes or transactions may apply their own evidence rules, so check those separately.
What does the potential EPC rating mean?
It is a modelled indication of the rating the property could achieve if recommended improvements were made. It is not a promise of the result or a quote for the work.
Why does the EPC register show a different rating from an estate agent advert?
The property may have a newer EPC, or the advert may have copied an older report. Compare the address, certificate date and reference number, then use the latest valid report.
Does an EPC tell me exactly how much my energy bills will be?
No. It uses standard assumptions to compare a property’s energy performance. Your actual bills depend on factors such as household size, heating habits, tariffs and weather.
Does a low EPC rating mean I must make improvements before selling?
An EPC includes recommendations, but those recommendations are not automatically a legal requirement to carry out. Separate rules may apply to rented properties or a particular grant, so check the situation that applies to you.
What if I cannot find my EPC reference number?
Search by postcode or street name and town instead. If you still cannot find the report, confirm the property address and whether it is in Scotland, then contact the relevant register or ask the seller, landlord or assessor for the certificate reference.
Ready to compare heating upgrade costs?
Review a regional estimate for your home, then request written local quotes if you are ready to plan the work.