Type a postcode and pick the address — we'll show the current EPC band, its potential, when it expires, and whether the property can legally be let.
Many of our lenders offer better rates on efficient properties, and improvement works can be financed as part of a remortgage or bridge. Tell us about the property and we'll find the right way to fund it.
Start an applicationEnter a postcode and the checker searches the official government EPC register for every certificate at that postcode, for homes and for commercial buildings. Pick the address and it shows the current energy rating, the potential rating if the recommended improvements were made, and the date the certificate expires. EPCs are valid for 10 years, so an expired one is flagged.
The rating itself comes from an assessor’s survey, scored from 1 to 100+ and grouped into bands: A (92+), B (81–91), C (69–80), D (55–68), E (39–54), F (21–38) and G (1–20). The register can lag behind a recent assessment by a few days, so if you have just had the property re-rated, the new certificate may not show yet.
Under the Minimum Energy Efficiency Standard (MEES), a privately rented home in England or Wales generally needs a rating of E or better to be let, unless a valid exemption is registered. Letting an F or G property without one can lead to a fine, and most buy-to-let lenders will not lend on a property that cannot legally be let.
The government has set out plans to raise the minimum for rented homes to C by 2030, with a cap on what a landlord is expected to spend. A property sitting at D or E today is lettable, but it is worth knowing what the upgrade would cost before you buy or remortgage. The potential rating on the certificate, and the recommendations behind it, are a good starting point.
The rating also affects your borrowing. Some lenders offer lower rates or cashback on properties rated A to C, and improvement works can often be funded through a remortgage, a further advance or, for a bigger refurbishment, a short bridging loan followed by a refinance.
Related: compare live buy-to-let rates, work out the rent test with the buy-to-let mortgage calculator, or see remortgaging after refurbishment.
In England and Wales a rental property generally needs E or better under the MEES rules, unless a valid exemption is registered on the PRS Exemptions Register.
Ten years from the date it was issued. You need a valid certificate when you market a property for sale or let, so an expired one should be renewed first.
The government has set out plans for rented homes to reach C by 2030, with a spending cap for landlords. Check the current position before relying on a timetable, as the detail can change.
Yes. Most buy-to-let lenders will not lend on a property that cannot legally be let, and some offer better rates or cashback on properties rated A to C.
Often, yes. Works can be funded through a remortgage or further advance, or with a bridging loan for a larger refurbishment, then refinanced on the improved property.
All lending is subject to the lender’s underwriting, valuation and criteria at the time of application. DAS Finance Ltd is a credit broker, not a lender.
