How much is an EPC certificate?

Energy Performance Certificates (EPCs) are a legal requirement if you are renting, selling or building a property in the UK. Find out about EPC costs with our useful guide.

How much does an EPC cost?

An Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) usually costs between £60 and £120 (including VAT). The cost depends on a number of factors, including the type of property you own and how many bedrooms it has. As there are no fixed fees it's worth comparing quotes from registered energy assessors to make sure you're getting the best price.

You cannot issue an EPC yourself but you may be offered the services via an estate or letting agent. However, to get the best EPC cost, you must make sure you get the assessment completed directly with an assessor.

What is involved in the EPC cost?

The cost of an EPC covers the survey that is completed by an accredited Domestic Energy Assessor. It also covers the fee for the Energy Performance Certificate itself.

The Certificate identifies how energy efficient the property is. It's graded on a scale from A to G, with A meaning ‘Very Efficient’ and G meaning ‘Not Very Efficient.’ The average energy efficiency rating for a property in England and Wales is band D.

The EPC will also assign the property a number from 1-100. A higher number signifies that the property is more energy efficient. A more energy efficient home means that fuel bills will be more cost effective.

What does a Domestic Energy Assessor do?

When you pay for the cost of an EPC, you are also paying for the services provided by a Domestic Energy Assessor (DEA). The EPC usually takes between 45 minutes and an hour to complete.

The DEA will carry out a number of health and safety checks on your property. They'll take dimensions throughout the building to identify areas where heat may be lost. Examples of where heat could be lost include through windows, ceilings and walls.

The property will be inspected to give an indication of how much it will cost to power and heat your home. The EPC also identifies the amount you could potentially save should you improve the energy efficiency of the household running costs as outlined within the Certificate.

The survey also includes:

• Inspection of room heaters, boilers, heating controls and fireplaces
• Record of fuel type to heat the property
• A survey of any extensions on the property plus the construction type (solid brick, stone etc.) and age of the property
• Inspection of insulation present in the loft and walls
• Record of low energy lighting
• Inspection on the types of glazing on windows

Once completed, the data is recorded on a property data sheet and the EPC is produced. The Certificate is then sent to the agent and/or property owner within 2 days. After this, it's logged with Landmark Registry and stored with all copies of Certificates with the government portal.

What other costs are involved with an EPC?

Along with the cost of the Certificate itself and the service provided by the Domestic Energy Assessor, there may be the added cost of any work that may need to be carried out to improve the energy efficiency on your property.

The EPC can act as a useful guide to help you focus on the main areas where improvements can be made to reduce the household running costs. Improving the EPC on your property and making your home more energy efficient could also increase its value.