What Is My EPC Rating?
Look up the Energy Performance Certificate for any property in England and Wales — and find out what it means for running costs, mortgages, and surveys.
We'll search the official EPC register and show you the most recent certificate on record.
An Energy Performance Certificate rates a property's energy efficiency from A (most efficient) to G (least efficient). It affects running costs, mortgage eligibility, rental legality, and is increasingly relevant to property value. Every buyer and tenant should understand the EPC before they commit.
Understanding the A–G Rating Scale
The EPC rating is calculated from a Standard Assessment Procedure (SAP) score between 1 and 100. The higher the score, the more energy efficient the property. Each rating band corresponds to a range of SAP points:
EPC Ratings and Mortgages
The EPC rating is becoming an increasingly important factor in mortgage lending. Several major lenders have begun offering preferential rates for energy-efficient properties, and there is growing pressure to restrict lending on the least efficient homes.
- Some lenders offer green mortgage rates at lower interest for A or B-rated properties — worth checking before you apply.
- F and G-rated buy-to-let properties are becoming harder to finance as lenders apply stricter criteria ahead of anticipated regulatory changes.
- The government has previously proposed requiring all rented homes to reach EPC C by 2030 — while policy details remain under review, the direction of travel is clear.
- For residential purchases, most lenders still lend on D and E properties without restriction — but this may change within your ownership period.
If you're buying a D or E-rated property, factor the cost of improvement works into your offer. Upgrading insulation, replacing an old boiler, or fitting double glazing can move a property by one or two bands — and significantly reduce your running costs. The EPC's own recommendations section tells you exactly what works are suggested and their estimated impact.
EPC Ratings and Surveys
A RICS Home Survey and an EPC serve different purposes — but they complement each other well for buyers. Here's how they relate:
- The EPC rates energy efficiency based on a standardised calculation — it does not assess structural condition, defects, or the quality of improvement works already carried out.
- A low EPC rating often correlates with older construction — which in turn means a higher likelihood of age-related defects. A G-rated pre-1900 property warrants a Level 3 Building Survey, for example.
- Conversely, a high EPC rating does not mean the property is free from defects. A recently upgraded D→B property may have insulation or glazing installed poorly, which a survey would identify.
- The EPC's recommended improvements can inform the scope of a survey — if cavity wall insulation is recommended, a surveyor can assess whether the wall type is suitable and whether existing insulation has caused damp issues.
Use our survey selector tool to find the right level of survey for your property, or check the property age tool to understand what era-specific risks apply.
Buying a Property? Get the Right Survey.
CJ Bloor surveyors cover the North West, West Yorkshire and West Midlands. Fast turnaround, clear reports, no jargon.
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CJ Bloor Property Consultants Limited is regulated by RICS. EPC data sourced from the MHCLG Energy Performance of Buildings open data register, updated quarterly. For legal and compliance purposes always refer to the official register.
