How Long Does an EPC Last? (And When You Need a New One)

An Energy Performance Certificate is valid for 10 years from the date of assessment. After that, it expires and a new assessment is required before the property can be legally marketed for sale or rent. There is no renewal process — when an EPC expires, you commission an entirely new assessment by a qualified Domestic Energy Assessor (DEA), and the new certificate reflects the property’s current condition.

With the October 2030 Band C deadline approaching, the question of when your EPC expires — and when to get a new one — has significant strategic implications. This guide covers the validity rules, how to check your expiry date, and why getting reassessed before October 2029 could save you considerable hassle.

EPC validity: the 10-year rule

Every EPC has a “valid until” date printed on it, exactly 10 years from the date the assessment was carried out. An EPC lodged on 15 March 2018 expires on 15 March 2028. An EPC lodged on 1 January 2020 expires on 1 January 2030.

During the 10-year validity period, the certificate can be used for any purpose — letting, selling, or simply holding. You do not need to get a new one just because a tenancy changes, provided the existing certificate has not expired.

However, a valid EPC does not automatically mean a compliant one. If your property has a valid Band D certificate, it is valid but will not meet the Band C requirement from October 2030. Validity and compliance are separate questions.

How to check your EPC expiry date

There are two ways to check when your EPC expires:

• Our postcode tool: Enter your postcode to see your property’s current EPC details, including whether the certificate has expired.
• The official EPC register: Search by postcode or address at find-energy-certificate.service.gov.uk. The certificate shows the “valid until” date.

What happens when your EPC expires

When an EPC expires, two things change:

• You cannot market the property for sale or rent without commissioning a new one. It is a legal requirement to have a valid EPC available to prospective tenants or buyers at the point of marketing.
• Your existing tenancy is not affected. An EPC expiring mid-tenancy does not require you to evict the tenant, end the tenancy or commission a new assessment. The obligation is triggered when you market the property or grant a new tenancy, not during a continuous existing tenancy.

That said, from October 2030 the rules tighten: the Band C minimum will apply to all private rented properties, including existing tenancies, not just new lettings. So an expired EPC on a property that has been continuously occupied is still a problem if you cannot demonstrate Band C compliance.

When to get reassessed early: the October 2029 factor

This is the most strategically important point in the entire validity question. From October 2029, the government is replacing the current SAP methodology with the Home Energy Model (HEM). This changes how EPC ratings are calculated.

The critical implication: if you get a new EPC before October 2029 under the current SAP methodology, that certificate is valid for 10 years — taking you to 2039, well past the 2030 deadline. You lock in a known result under a methodology you understand.

If you wait until after October 2029, your new EPC will be assessed under HEM. Some properties that currently score Band C under SAP may score lower under HEM because the new model uses different calculation methods. You could make improvements, expect Band C, and receive a lower rating under the new methodology.

For landlords, the practical advice is clear: if your property can reach Band C with improvements, make those improvements and commission a new EPC before October 2029. For full details on what is changing and how it affects you, see our guide on the HEM methodology change.

What triggers a new EPC requirement

You need a valid EPC in the following situations:

• Marketing a property for sale: Before the property is listed, you must have a valid EPC available to prospective buyers.
• Marketing a property for rent: Before advertising or instructing an agent, you must have a valid EPC to show prospective tenants.
• Granting a new tenancy: At the point of signing a new tenancy agreement, a valid EPC must be provided to the tenant.
• Renewing a tenancy: If your existing EPC has expired at the point of renewal, a new one is required.
• After significant building work: If you carry out major works that affect the building’s energy performance (e.g. an extension, new heating system, or significant insulation work), the Building Control body may require a new EPC as part of sign-off.

The landlord obligation

As a landlord of a privately rented property, you have an ongoing obligation to ensure the property meets the Minimum Energy Efficiency Standard (MEES). Currently, the minimum is EPC Band E. From October 2030, this rises to Band C.

This means that even if your current EPC is valid and shows Band D, you will need to either:

• Make improvements to reach Band C and get a new EPC confirming this, or
• Register a valid exemption (cost cap, listed building, consent or devaluation) on the PRS Exemptions Register.

Waiting for your EPC to expire naturally is not a strategy. If your current certificate shows a rating below Band C, you should be planning improvements now — ideally completing them and getting a new EPC before October 2029 to lock in the SAP methodology.

If your EPC has already expired, see our guide on what to do when your landlord EPC expires for step-by-step guidance.