How long does an EPC last?

An Energy Performance Certificate is valid for 10 years from the day it is lodged on the register. The interesting question is when you actually need a current one.

When a valid EPC is required

You need one at three moments: when a property is built, sold, or let to a new tenant. Marketing a home for sale or rent without one risks a fine. Outside those moments, an expired certificate on a home you simply live in has no consequence at all.

When you do not need a new one

A tenancy that started while the certificate was valid stays compliant for that tenancy even after the certificate expires; the requirement bites again when you re-let to someone new. Remortgaging generally does not require one, though some lenders ask. And a sale can proceed on any certificate that is still inside its 10 years, however old the survey behind it feels.

Why renew early

A new certificate replaces the old one the moment it is lodged. That makes early renewal worthwhile in two cases. First, after improvement work: insulation, a new boiler or solar panels only show up in your rating when a new assessment captures them, which matters if you are selling or approaching the rental minimum. Second, if your old certificate underrates the home because the assessor could not evidence something, and you now have the paperwork.

One caution the other way: assessment methods change over time, most recently in June 2025. A borderline rating can move in either direction on reassessment, so if your current certificate scrapes into the band you need and has years left, letting it run can be the smarter move.

Checking the date

Every certificate shows its expiry date, and the official register is free to search at gov.uk. If yours has lapsed and you need a new one, a domestic assessment typically costs £35 to £120; see how much an EPC costs.