EPC Register — Search Certificates & Ratings

The EPC register is the national record of every Energy Performance Certificate lodged in England & Wales — held by MHCLG and searchable free on the official find-energy-certificate service. Search the same register data right here: enter a postcode and see every domestic certificate at that postcode with its A–G band, lodged date and full detail for the newest match.

Live lookup against the official MHCLG register. England & Wales.

The official EPC registers

HouseCheckup is not the register itself — the search above reads the official MHCLG register data live, and every certificate it finds links back to the official record. The same lookup also powers our EPC checker, which adds the full certificate detail: floor area, CO₂ and recommended improvements with typical savings. If you prefer to search at source:

England, Wales & NI

find-energy-certificate.service.gov.uk — the GOV.UK register. Free, no account needed. Search by postcode or certificate number.

Scotland

scottishepcregister.org.uk — Scotland keeps its own register under Scottish building standards. Also free to search.

What is an EPC?

An Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) is a legally required document that rates the energy efficiency of a building on a scale from A (most efficient) to G (least efficient). It is similar to the energy labels you see on household appliances.

EPCs are required by law whenever a property is built, sold, or rented in England and Wales. The certificate must be provided to prospective buyers or tenants at the earliest opportunity. An EPC is valid for 10 years from the date of issue.

The assessment is carried out by a qualified Domestic Energy Assessor (DEA) who inspects the property and records details such as wall construction, insulation levels, heating system, windows, and lighting. The resulting certificate includes:

  • The current energy efficiency rating (A to G) and numerical score (1 to 100)
  • The potential rating if all recommended improvements were made
  • Estimated energy costs for heating, hot water, and lighting
  • Recommended improvements with estimated savings and typical installation costs
  • Environmental impact rating (CO2 emissions)

EPC Bands Explained

There are seven EPC bands, from A (best) to G (worst). Here is what each band means for energy costs and how common they are across UK homes.

BandScore rangeWhat it meansAvg energy cost% of UK homes
A92–100Highly efficient£500/yr1%
B81–91Very efficient£900/yr8%
C69–80Efficient£1,200/yr18%
D55–68Average£1,600/yr32%
E39–54Below average£2,100/yr25%
F21–38Poor£2,800/yr10%
G1–20Very poor£3,500/yr+6%

Average energy costs are approximate and vary by property size, location, and energy tariff. Percentages based on DLUHC EPC statistics for England and Wales.

How HouseCheckup uses EPC data

We go beyond simply displaying the EPC band. HouseCheckup integrates EPC data into a comprehensive property analysis that includes:

Full EPC breakdown

Current rating, potential rating, detailed scores for walls, roof, windows, heating, hot water, and lighting.

Carbon footprint

Estimated annual CO2 emissions and environmental impact rating, helping you understand the property's climate impact.

Heating cost analysis

Estimated annual heating, hot water, and lighting costs based on the EPC assessment and current energy prices.

Potential rating

What the EPC score could be with recommended improvements — and the estimated cost savings of achieving them.

EPC rules for landlords

The Minimum Energy Efficiency Standards (MEES) regulations currently require all rental properties in England and Wales to have an EPC rating of at least Band E. Landlords cannot legally grant a new tenancy or renew an existing tenancy for a property rated F or G, unless they have a valid exemption registered on the PRS Exemptions Register.

The government has proposed raising the minimum standard to Band C by 2030 for new tenancies. If implemented, this would affect approximately 36% of rental properties currently rated D or below — requiring landlords to invest in energy efficiency improvements such as insulation, double glazing, boiler upgrades, or heat pumps.

Landlord alert: MEES 2030

If you are a landlord or property investor, check the EPC rating of your rental properties now. Properties rated D or below will likely need upgrading before 2030. HouseCheckup flags EPC ratings of F or G as a Red Flag in our reports, and our Investor Pro report includes estimated upgrade costs and rental yield impact.

Penalties for non-compliance are significant: up to £5,000 per property for renting a sub-standard property, plus potential reputational damage and tenant compensation claims. Fines are published on a public register maintained by the local authority.

Found the certificate? That's 1 check of 15+

The register tells you a certificate exists and what band it holds. It can't tell you whether the address floods, sits over coal workings, is in a high-radon area, or what nearby homes actually sold for. The Complete report compiles this certificate plus 15+ official-source checks for the exact address.

Get the full property reportView sample report

Frequently asked questions

For England, Wales and Northern Ireland the official EPC register is the government's find-energy-certificate service at find-energy-certificate.service.gov.uk, run by MHCLG — it is free and needs no account. Scotland keeps a separate register at scottishepcregister.org.uk. The search box on this page queries the same MHCLG register data live by postcode, and links every result back to the official certificate.
Yes. The official government register is free to search, with no account or sign-up, and so is the postcode search on this page — it reads the same MHCLG Energy Performance of Buildings register live. You only ever pay for an EPC when you commission a new assessment for your own property (typically £60–£120), or if you choose a paid product like the HouseCheckup Complete report, which puts the certificate in context alongside 15+ other official-source checks.
You can check a property's EPC rating on the official government register at find-energy-certificate.service.gov.uk (the GOV.UK service for England, Wales and Northern Ireland; Scotland uses the separate Scottish EPC Register), or instantly via HouseCheckup. Simply search for the address and we will display the current EPC band (A to G), the numerical score, estimated energy costs, and improvement recommendations. Our Complete report also includes the potential rating, carbon emissions data, and a comparison with local averages.
An EPC is valid for 10 years from the date it was issued. After 10 years, a new EPC must be obtained if you want to sell or let the property. You can choose to get a new EPC before the old one expires if you have made energy efficiency improvements — the new certificate will reflect your upgrades and may help you achieve a better sale price or rental yield.
Yes. By law, you must have a valid EPC before marketing your property for sale. The EPC must be provided to prospective buyers at the earliest opportunity and must be included in any written property particulars. Estate agents cannot legally market a property without an EPC. Failure to provide an EPC can result in a fine of up to £5,000.
Under the Minimum Energy Efficiency Standards (MEES), properties in England and Wales must currently have a minimum EPC rating of E to be legally rented out. Landlords cannot grant a new tenancy or renew an existing tenancy for a property rated F or G. The government has proposed increasing the minimum to Band C by 2030 for new tenancies, which would affect approximately 36% of rental properties currently rated D or below.
A new EPC assessment typically costs between £60 and £120, depending on the size and type of property and your location. The assessment is carried out by a qualified Domestic Energy Assessor (DEA) and usually takes 45 to 60 minutes. You can find accredited assessors through the EPC Register or by asking your estate agent. The certificate is then uploaded to the national register and is publicly accessible.