An EPC is valid for ten years from the date it was lodged. Expiry does not make it wrong — it makes it unusable for a new sale or letting.

First, check before you pay

The government keeps a public register of every domestic EPC in England and Wales, searchable by postcode, and it is free. Before booking anything, look yours up. We would far rather tell you that you already have a valid certificate than take a booking you did not need — and this is genuinely common with flats built in the last decade, which were given an on-construction certificate the owner has often forgotten about.

When you actually need a new one

  • It has expired and you are selling or letting.
  • You are letting and the rating is below the legal minimum — currently band E. An expired certificate does not exempt you from that.
  • The property has changed materially — an extension, a loft conversion, a new heating system. The old certificate no longer describes the home.
  • You have improved it and want the better rating on record before marketing.

When you do not

If you are simply living in your home and not selling, letting or applying for a grant, an expired EPC has no consequence at all. There is no penalty for holding an out-of-date certificate on a property you occupy. The requirement attaches to the transaction, not to the house.

Do not assume expiry means the rating has changed

A certificate expiring in 2026 was produced under an older version of the assessment method. The method was overhauled from mid-2025 — more detail on wall construction, and every window measured individually rather than sampled. That means a re-assessment on an unchanged property will not necessarily reproduce the old letter. Sometimes it is better because the surveyor can now evidence something the old default assumed pessimistically. Occasionally it is worse.

Getting it renewed quickly

Renewal is not a shorter job than a first assessment — it is the same survey. Expect 30 to 45 minutes on site, with the certificate lodged usually within 48 hours. If you are inside a chain and need it fast, say so when we call and we will prioritise.

You can book online at a fixed price, and if it turns out your existing certificate is still valid, tell us and we will refund you in full.