The EPC register explained: how to find any home's certificate
Every energy performance certificate lodged since 2008 sits on a public national register. Most people never look at it, which is a shame, because it is one of the few places you can read hard facts about a home before you commit to it.
What the EPC register actually is
When a home in England, Wales or Northern Ireland is built, sold or let, an accredited assessor visits, measures the property and lodges a certificate on the national register. The register is maintained by government and published under the Open Government Licence, which is why an address lookup is free rather than a paid service. Scotland runs a separate register with its own rules.
The register is not a valuation, a survey or a snagging list. It is a standardised model of the building fabric and heating system, scored on a common scale so two homes can be compared like for like.
What each certificate records
| Field | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Current band and score | How efficient the home is today, A to G and 1 to 100 |
| Potential band and score | What it would reach if every recommended measure were installed |
| Total floor area | Often the only published measurement of the property's size |
| Property type and built form | Detached, semi, mid terrace, flat, and how it is attached |
| Construction age band | A reliable clue to when the home was built |
| Main heating and controls | Boiler type, fuel and whether controls are modern |
| Walls, roof, windows, floor | Each element rated from very poor to very good |
| Estimated running costs | Modelled heating, hot water and lighting cost over three years |
| Recommended improvements | Measures with indicative costs and the rating gain |
| Assessment date and expiry | Certificates run for ten years from assessment |
Who can search it, and for which address
Anyone can. The register is public, and you do not need to own the property or have the certificate reference number. That is what makes it useful when you are viewing a house, comparing a shortlist, or checking what a landlord has on file before signing a tenancy. A seller's listing may show a band; the register shows the whole certificate behind it.
Why some homes are missing
- The property has not been built, sold or let since certificates became mandatory, so none was ever required.
- The certificate expired more than ten years ago and no new assessment has been done.
- The address is recorded differently on the register — flats and converted units are common culprits.
- The building is exempt, for example some listed buildings, places of worship and temporary structures.
Reading the score, not just the letter
Bands cover wide ranges. A high D at 68 and a low D at 55 are very different homes, and the low D will cost noticeably more to run. Always look at the number alongside the letter, and at the gap between current and potential — a big gap means cheap wins are still available, a small gap means the easy work has already been done.
Common questions
Is searching the EPC register free?
Yes. The data is published under the Open Government Licence and our address lookup is free with no account needed.
How long does an EPC last?
Ten years from the assessment date. It stays valid across a change of owner or tenant during that period.
Can I see a certificate for someone else's house?
Yes. The register is public, so any address in England, Wales or Northern Ireland can be searched.
How do I get a certificate removed or corrected?
Contact the assessor who lodged it, or their accreditation scheme. Genuine errors in floor area, heating or construction can be amended.
Check this for a real address
Enter any address in England or Wales and we pull the energy certificate, sale history, council tax band, flood and crime data, schools and neighbourhood context into a single report.
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