How to check a property's EPC: register lookup, expiry and what's assessed

Last updated 5 August 2026·Registers cover England & Wales, Northern Ireland and Scotland separately

Every Energy Performance Certificate lodged in England and Wales sits on a free public register. This guide shows where to look a certificate up, how to read what you find — rating, score, expiry, recommendations — and what the assessor actually checked to produce it.

Where to check an EPC for free

England, Wales and Northern Ireland: the government's Find an energy certificate service — search by postcode, then pick the address.
Scotland: certificates are published separately on the Scottish EPC register.
In context: Address Lens shows the matched current EPC record where one is available for an England or Wales address — next to the property's sold price history and risk screening — via the EPC checker.

How to read the certificate

Rating and score — the A–G band comes from a 1–100 point scale; the score tells you how close the property sits to the next band.
Potential rating — what the assessor calculated the property could reach if the recommended measures were carried out.
Expiry date — certificates normally last ten years from issue.
Recommendations — the measures list, which is the starting point for any upgrade plan and for landlord compliance work.

What the assessor actually checks

A domestic EPC comes from a visual, non-invasive survey by an accredited domestic energy assessor — typically 30 to 60 minutes. The assessor records construction and age, loft and wall insulation, the heating system and its controls, hot water provision, windows and glazing, lighting and floor area, then lodges the certificate on the register.

Expired doesn't mean unlawful: owning or living in a home with an expired EPC requires nothing. A valid certificate is generally required when the property is next marketed for sale or let, subject to exemptions and current government guidance — see what a new certificate costs.

Frequently asked questions

Is checking an EPC free?

Yes. The government register (Find an energy certificate) is free to search for England, Wales and Northern Ireland, and Scotland's register is free too. Address Lens also shows the matched current EPC record where one is available, in context with sold prices and risk screening.

Why does a property have no EPC on the register?

A certificate is generally only commissioned when a property is marketed for sale or let, so a home that has not changed hands or been re-let since 2008 may never have had one. An expired certificate also drops out of validity ten years after issue.

Can I check an EPC by postcode?

Yes — both the government register and Address Lens accept a postcode, then let you pick the address. Address Lens also accepts a full address or a UPRN.