Every EPC for a home in England, Wales and Northern Ireland is kept on one government register, and anyone can search it for free. This guide shows how to find a certificate, how to tell that it is genuine and in date, how to keep a copy, and what to do if it is missing, expired or wrong.
Find an EPC on the register
Go to the GOV.UK find an energy certificate service, choose a domestic property, then search in one of three ways:
- By postcode. The quickest way. You get a list of the addresses in that postcode that have a certificate.
- By street name and town. Useful if you do not know the postcode, or if the address is recorded in a way you did not expect.
- By certificate number. The 20-digit number printed on the certificate, if you already have a copy.
For a flat, check how the flats are numbered in the list. "Flat 1", "First floor flat" and "1A" can all be the same home. If the home is in Scotland, use the separate Scottish EPC Register instead.
Check that the EPC is genuine and in date
Only an EPC that is on the register, with a certificate number, is genuine. If someone gives you a paper or PDF copy, look up its certificate number and compare the two.
An EPC is valid for 10 years from the day it was lodged, unless a newer EPC has been lodged for the same home since. The certificate page shows the expiry date, or says that the certificate has expired. If there is a list of other certificates for the property, only the most recent one is valid.
The page also names the assessor and their accreditation scheme. You can check that an assessor is accredited using the register's assessor search.
Download, print or share a copy
Each certificate page has three buttons: Print, Email and Copy link to clipboard. There is no separate download button. To save a PDF, choose Print and select Save as PDF as the printer. The link keeps working, so emailing it to a buyer, tenant or agent is often the simplest way to share it.
After a new assessment, the assessor gives you a digital copy of your certificate, and its certificate number finds it on the register.
If you cannot find an EPC
There are four common reasons:
- The home has never had one. A home that has not been sold or let since EPCs were introduced may never have been assessed.
- The address is recorded differently. Try the street name and town search, and look at every entry for the building.
- The certificate has been opted out of public view. The owner or occupier can ask for it to be hidden.
- The home is in Scotland, which uses its own register.
A newly built home, or a building converted into flats, should come with an EPC from whoever did the work. If there is no certificate and you are selling or letting, you need a new one. Our guide to whether you need an EPC covers each situation.
If the EPC has expired
An expired EPC stays on the register and is marked as expired. You do not need a new one just because it has run out while you live in the home. You need a valid EPC before you next sell or let it. Our guide on how long an EPC lasts covers the rules in detail.
If you think the EPC is wrong
Start with the assessor named on the certificate. If that does not resolve it, contact their accreditation scheme, which is also named on the page. The scheme must investigate, and if the information is found to be wrong, a new EPC is issued and the register is updated at no cost to you.
Before you complain, check what was recorded. Many ratings that look wrong come from features that were assumed because there was no evidence on the day, such as insulation that could not be seen. Our guide on why two similar homes get different ratings shows how to check the certificate line by line.
Remove your EPC from public view
If you own or live in the home, you can ask for its EPC to be removed from public view at any time, using the contact details on the GOV.UK opt-out page. It is removed from the register's search within 2 weeks, and from future bulk data releases.
Need a new EPC?
If the certificate is missing, expired, or no longer reflects the home, request your exact quote. We charge the same in every London borough, and lodge the EPC on the register within 72 hours of the visit as standard.
What it costs
An EPC is priced by the home’s internal floor area. Guide prices:
- Up to 40 m²Studios and compact flats£65
- 41–55 m²1-bedroom flats£75
- 56–75 m²2-bedroom flats and small homes£85
- 76–95 m²2–3-bedroom homes£95
- 96–115 m²3–4-bedroom houses£105
- 116 m² and overLarge homes, 4+ bedroomsfrom£120
A floor plan at the same visit saves up to £35. Same-day lodgement is £15 extra, and a next-day visit with the EPC lodged that day is £35 extra. Your exact price is confirmed before you book.
See every priceFrequently asked questions
Is it free to check an EPC?
Yes. Searching and viewing EPCs on the GOV.UK find an energy certificate service is free, and you do not need an account.
Can I look up the EPC for any property?
Yes, for homes in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, unless the owner or occupier has opted out of public disclosure. Scotland uses the separate Scottish EPC Register.
How do I download my EPC as a PDF?
Open the certificate on the GOV.UK service and choose Print. In the print window, pick Save as PDF as the printer. You can also email yourself the link or copy it, because the page stays on the register.
Why can't I find my EPC on the register?
The home may never have had one, the address may be recorded differently (try the street name and town, and check flat numbering), the certificate may have been opted out of public view, or the home may be in Scotland. If none of these apply, you will need a new assessment.
Can an EPC be changed once it is on the register?
No. Data on the register cannot be altered. If an EPC is found to be wrong, the assessor's accreditation scheme makes sure a new one is issued and the register is updated, at no cost to you. A new assessment also replaces the old one as the valid EPC.
In your area
Ratings from EPCs lodged for existing homes, 01/01/2023 to 12/10/2026, from the GOV.UK register.
Sources
- Find an energy certificate, GOV.UK (MHCLG). Checked 29/10/2026.Covers England, Wales and Northern Ireland; Scotland has a different service. Searches by postcode, street name and town, or certificate number; each certificate page offers print, email and copy link.
- A guide to energy performance certificates for the marketing, sale and let of dwellings, GOV.UK (DCLG). Checked 29/10/2026.Only an EPC lodged on the register with a reference number is authentic; register data cannot be altered; only the most recent EPC is valid; complaints go to the assessor, then the accreditation scheme, and a confirmed error is reissued at no cost.
- The Energy Performance of Buildings (England and Wales) Regulations 2012, regulation 9, legislation.gov.uk. Checked 29/10/2026.An EPC is valid if it was entered on the register no more than 10 years before it is made available and no newer EPC for the building has been entered since.
- Energy Performance Certificates: opt-out of public disclosure, GOV.UK (MHCLG). Checked 29/10/2026.Holders of EPCs can opt out at any time through the MHCLG helpdesk; the EPC is removed from the registers within 2 weeks and from future bulk data releases.
- Get a new energy certificate, GOV.UK (MHCLG). Checked 29/10/2026.After the assessment, the assessor gives you a digital copy of the certificate.
Crown copyright material is used under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
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