For home sellers
EPCs for selling your London home
Generally, an EPC must be commissioned before your home is marketed for sale; exemptions apply. One accredited visit, and your certificate is on the GOV.UK register within 72 hours as standard, or the same day for £15 extra. Your exact price comes before you book.
Abdul Motaleb Taher, Elmhurst and Quidos accredited, EES/036265 and QUID202220. Check the GOV.UK register
Why it matters
Why you need an EPC to sell
An EPC generally must be commissioned before a home is marketed for sale in England and Wales. Reasonable efforts must be made to obtain it within seven days of marketing, with a further 21 days allowed if those efforts fail. It is provided to prospective buyers as required; exemptions apply.
Legal requirement
Generally, an EPC must be commissioned before marketing a home for sale in England and Wales. The rules allow limited time to obtain it; exemptions apply.
Buyers care about efficiency
The rating is on every listing, and with higher energy bills many buyers take it into account.
Don’t hold up your sale
Conveyancing solicitors will ask for the certificate early. Our 72-hour standard delivery (or same-day lodgement) keeps your timeline on track.
You can book directly with us, with the price up front, and if you work in property, estate and letting agents can partner with us for all their listings.
Sources: the Energy Performance of Buildings Regulations 2012, regulation 7 and GOV.UK guidance for sellers, which lists the buildings that don't need one. Read 24/10/2026.
Timeline
When to book your EPC
The earlier the better. Here's how to fit your EPC into a typical sale.
- 1
Get your EPC before marketing
Unless the home already has a valid EPC, one must be commissioned before it is advertised. Your agent has to be satisfied it has been commissioned before they market the home, so they will ask for it on day one.
- 2
Book early in the listing process
Booking your EPC at the same time as your photography and floor plan keeps everything ready for launch day.
- 3
Book a next-day visit if you’re tight
If your agent has already started chasing, we can visit the next day and lodge your certificate that day (+£35).
- 4
Give it to buyers
Show it free to anyone who asks about the home or views it, and give a copy to the person who buys it. Your solicitor may ask for it early in conveyancing.
Sale price and speed
How your EPC affects your sale
EPC ratings show on Rightmove, Zoopla and OnTheMarket listings. With energy costs and lender stress-testing in the spotlight, more buyers consider efficiency before making an offer.
A higher rating signals lower running costs, which can support your asking price and reduce time on market. A lower rating doesn't stop a sale, but it gives buyers a reason to negotiate down. The improvement recommendations on your certificate give you a roadmap if you want to push the rating up before relisting.
- Included
- The recommendations on every EPC list the improvements that could raise the rating, with a rough cost for each.
- £35 extra
- EPC Improvement Plan. Abdul writes out what is holding the rating back and what to do first, with the full Elmhurst Energy Report behind it.
- From £90
- EPC Pre-Assessment. Planning works before you list? The same survey as guidance only, not lodged, so you know where the rating stands before anything goes on the register.
Quick-win improvements for sellers
- LED lightingLow-cost swap. Every lamp in a fixed fitting is counted by type on the EPC, and only LED lamps are recorded as LED.
- Modern condensing boilerA high-efficiency boiler with good controls is one of the highest-impact upgrades for older properties.
- Loft and cavity wall insulationQuick, cost-effective improvements that meaningfully shift your rating in many London homes.
- RenewablesSolar PV or a heat pump may be suitable, depending on the building and system design. A particular rating gain is not guaranteed.
Check us before you book
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Abdul Motaleb Taher
Domestic Energy Assessor with Elmhurst Energy Systems Ltd (EES/036265) and Quidos Limited (QUID202220). DBS checked.
Check the GOV.UK register£5m cover, twice over
Professionally insured through Elmhurst’s accredited-member insurance scheme, including £5m Public Liability and £5m Professional Indemnity cover.
All 32 boroughs and the City
Based in Stratford, E15. No travel charges anywhere we cover.
See every area
Do I need the EPC before or after I list my home?
Generally, commission the EPC before marketing. Make reasonable efforts to obtain it within seven days; a further 21 days is allowed if those efforts fail. Exemptions apply. Arranging it early helps avoid delays.
Should I arrange the EPC myself or leave it to my estate agent?
Either works. Booking directly, you see the price up front and keep control of the timing and can have the certificate ready the moment you instruct your agent.
Does a higher EPC rating actually help my sale?
It can. The rating shows on every listing, and with higher energy bills many buyers take it into account. A poor rating can give a buyer a reason to negotiate.
Should I improve my rating before selling, or sell as-is?
It depends on your timeline. Cheap quick wins like LED lighting and topping up loft insulation can lift the rating before you list. If you need to move fast, selling as-is is perfectly fine: the improvement recommendations on your certificate simply pass to the buyer.
I already have an EPC from when I bought the property. Can I reuse it?
Yes, as long as it is still within its 10-year validity. The certificate is tied to the property, not the owner. If it has expired and an EPC is required, commission a new one before marketing. Improvements do not automatically invalidate an EPC, but a fresh assessment can record the changed property.
Read next
SellingEPCs for selling a house, in fullThe time limits, who has to show the EPC, and what to do if the rating is low.Read the guide 
ValidityHow long an EPC lastsTen years, when you need a new one, and how to check the one you have.Read the guide 
Letting instead?EPCs for London landlordsWhere a rental stands against the E minimum, one let or a portfolio.Find out more - Selling through an agent?Your agent can book itOne home or a list, with the certificate sent straight to the branch.Agents
Sellers · from £65
Don’t let an EPC delay your sale
Standard 72-hour lodgement, same-day lodgement for £15 extra, or a next-day visit for £35 extra. We'll fit you in around your viewings.
Prefer to call? 07492 575 396, 8am to 8pm, every day
