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What is an EPC rating?
An EPC or Energy Performance Certificate, shows how energy efficient a property is. The higher the rating, the lower your energy bills are likely to be. An A-rating being the best, a G-rating needs the most improvement.
Find out how to get one, what the assessment involves, and how they can impact your mortgage application.
Checking your rating
Before you get an EPC, you can check if the property already has one on the government’s website.
If you’re in England or Wales, you can find an energy certificate on GOV.UK.
If you’re in Scotland, you can find an energy certificate on the Scottish EPC Register.
An EPC is valid for 10 years from the date of issue. If you do any work on the house in that time though, you may need a new one as your rating may have changed.
What does an EPC tell you?
The certificate rating looks like the multicoloured stickers you find on new appliances. The EPC report gives you:
- an indication about a property's potential energy use
- how much this is likely to cost over the next three years
- how to improve the rating
- what the potential rating could be if you make improvements.
Energy efficiency ratings explained
The property’s energy efficiency is scored out of 100 and then given an overall rating. From A being the most energy efficient, to G being the least.
As well as the current rating, the chart shows the property’s potential EPC rating. This helps you see what could be achieved if you carried out suggested improvements, which are listed in priority order.
How do EPC ratings affect my mortgage application?
When you apply for a mortgage, we decide how much you can borrow based on your individual circumstances. This includes things like your income, outgoings and credit score. It also includes the energy efficiency rating of the house you want to buy.
You might receive a higher loan amount if the EPC rating is an A or B. Or you might receive a slightly lower loan amount if the rating is F or G. This is because your monthly outgoings will be higher if you’re having to pay more on energy bills.
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