Use GOV.UK
The official route is Find an energy certificate on GOV.UK. This is the EPC register search most people need for England, Wales and Northern Ireland.
Search EPC register
Check EPC rating: search the EPC register in the UK
For an EPC rating check or EPC certificate check in the UK, use the official register first. In England, Wales and Northern Ireland, search the GOV.UK EPC register by postcode, street name and town, or certificate number. In Scotland, use the Scottish EPC Register.
An EPC is normally valid for 10 years, but if the property has changed a lot since it was issued, the old record may no longer be a useful guide. Use the main Energy Performance Certificate guide if you want the broader explanation as well. · 3 min read
Official route
How to search the EPC register in England, Wales and Northern Ireland
Find the right address
- Choose a domestic property for a house or flat.
- Search by postcode, street name and town, or certificate number.
- Select the exact address, including the flat number if there is one, then open the certificate.
Read the certificate
Check the current rating and valid-until date. The potential rating describes improvements that could be made; it is not the home's rating today. Read the recommendations and the recorded wall, roof and heating details before planning work.
Scotland
How to check EPC rating in Scotland
Different register
Open the Scottish EPC Register and choose Search EPC. The Scottish Government explains the process in its EPC guidance.
Search options
Search by postcode or the report reference number (RRN). If the property has an active Green Deal plan, use the RRN; it will not appear in a postcode search.
Assessor route
If the record is missing or out of date, the Scottish Government says the next step is to get an EPC assessor through the Scottish EPC register route.
Validity
How to tell if the EPC is still valid
Ten-year rule
For England, Wales and Northern Ireland, GOV.UK says an EPC is normally valid for 10 years. The Scottish Government says the same for Scotland.
Practical check
Look at the issue date, then ask whether the property has changed since then. New windows, added insulation, heating-system changes, or extensions can make the older record less useful.
If it is missing
If a postcode search finds nothing, try the street name and town or the certificate number from an existing copy. Check for a different flat number or address format. For a recently completed assessment, ask the assessor whether it has been lodged. If you need a valid EPC and none is available, use the official assessor search to arrange a new assessment.
Energy Performance Certificate guide
EPC evidence checklist
How to improve EPC rating
Heat loss vs EPC
Register routes and guidance checked on 11 October 2026: GOV.UK find an energy certificate, GOV.UK Energy Performance Certificates, gov.scot how to get an EPC, and gov.scot EPC guide.
Installer route
After the EPC check, move the job into the right survey route
For installer teams, an EPC check is usually the first filter. Once the rating is known, the live question is what evidence the job needs before anyone quotes, designs, or books an install too far ahead.
Heating work
Heat pump survey company
Use this route when the EPC check points towards low-carbon heating work and the team needs site notes before design or quote review.
Room-by-room evidence
Heat loss survey company
Use the heat loss route when the job needs clearer room data, fabric notes, emitter context, and a report that the next person can follow.
Solar evidence
Solar panel survey company
Use the solar route when the EPC is part of a wider PV conversation and the installer needs photos, access notes, roof context, and clear site evidence.
FAQs
Questions people ask about checking an EPC
Where do I search the EPC register in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland?
Use the GOV.UK Find an energy certificate service to search the EPC register and check EPC rating in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland.
Where do I check EPC rating in Scotland?
Use the Scottish EPC Register to check whether a building has an EPC in Scotland. You can search by postcode or EPC report reference number.
How long is an EPC valid?
An EPC is normally valid for 10 years, although the older record may no longer be a useful guide if the property has changed materially since it was issued.
What if the EPC is missing or expired?
If no certificate is lodged or the old one has expired, the next step is a new EPC assessment from an accredited assessor using the official register route.