How long does an EPC last?
An EPC is normally valid for 10 years, but a newer EPC for the same home replaces the older one. Check the current official record and its expiry date before relying on a saved PDF.
By EPC Benchmark · Last reviewed
Check the current certificate
Use the official service to find the current record, confirm it belongs to the right home, and check its issue and expiry dates. You can view and download an existing certificate free. The service covers England, Wales and Northern Ireland; Scotland has a separate service. EPC Benchmark’s comparison covers England and Wales only.
Check your certificate on GOV.UKEPC Benchmark never asks for an address or certificate ID and does not retrieve personal records.
What to do in common situations
| What you find | What to do next |
|---|---|
| The official register shows a valid current record | Use that record and its expiry date. Check any sale, letting or minimum-standard duties separately. |
| The record is expired or missing | Check the lookup and address details. When an EPC is required, arrange an accredited assessment rather than assuming a missing record proves an exemption. |
| A saved PDF is older than the register record | Rely on the newer official record, not the older PDF’s apparent later validity date. |
| The EPC expires or renewal arises during a tenancy | Check the current official letting and MEES guidance. Do not infer either blanket permission or a universal renewal requirement. |
| The property may be exempt or its position is complex | Use the official guidance or seek appropriate professional advice. EPC Benchmark cannot diagnose an exemption. |
Do I need to renew it for a sale or letting?
If there is no valid EPC when one is required, commission one before marketing. The detailed government guidance explains the timing rules; this does not mean every assessment must be completed before marketing. Use an accredited assessor when a new EPC is needed.
Selling your home? See when an EPC is needed before marketing.
What if it expires during a tenancy?
A certificate’s validity, whether a particular transaction triggers an EPC, and minimum energy efficiency standard duties are separate questions. The government’s detailed England and Wales EPC guide, last updated 11 December 2017, lists lease renewals and extensions among transactions not treated as a sale or rent. That is not a blanket statement that no EPC or minimum-standard duties apply.
The separate current MEES landlord guidance, last updated 5 May 2026, covers specific domestic tenancies and EPC requirements in England and Wales. A valid EPC alone is not proof of MEES compliance. Check current guidance for the circumstances rather than treating future proposals as current law.
A simple example
A homeowner has a fictional saved EPC from 2020. The official register shows a newer certificate issued in 2024. They use the 2024 register record and its stated expiry date, rather than assuming the older PDF remains the current certificate.
Limits of this guide
This is general information for England and Wales, not property-specific legal advice. EPC Benchmark’s aggregate comparison cannot confirm whether a certificate is valid, whether an exemption applies or whether a property complies with sale, letting or MEES duties.
Once you have the current official score, you can read the A–G band reference or compare it with published aggregates.
Sources
- GOV.UK: Energy Performance Certificates when selling a home — Validity, free downloads and what to do when a certificate is missing or expired.
- GOV.UK: EPCs for the marketing, sale and let of dwellings — Detailed England and Wales guidance, last updated 11 December 2017.
- GOV.UK: Find an energy certificate — The official lookup service for England, Wales and Northern Ireland; Scotland has a separate service.
- GOV.UK: Get a new energy certificate — How to find an accredited assessor.
- GOV.UK: Domestic private rented property minimum energy efficiency standard — Separate England and Wales landlord guidance, last updated 5 May 2026.
Related guides
- How do I find my EPC certificate? — Find and check the current official record.
- EPC bands explained — Understand the score on the current certificate.
- Methodology — See how EPC Benchmark produces aggregate comparisons.
Compare the current EPC score
Once you have the official current score, compare it with four separate published aggregate views.
Compare the current EPC score