EPCs · Cornwall and Devon
Energy Performance Certificates (EPC)
Selling or letting a home? You need a valid EPC before it goes on the market. Request a quote for a domestic EPC online, anywhere in Cornwall and Devon.
On the booking page, choose Residential, then Domestic EPC.
What is an EPC?
An Energy Performance Certificate tells you how energy efficient a property is. It gives a rating from A (best) to G (worst), shows information about the property’s energy use and typical energy costs, and recommends steps to improve its efficiency and save money.
An EPC is valid for 10 years. Every EPC is produced by an accredited assessor and lodged on the government register, where anyone can find an energy certificate and download it free.
Our EPCs are carried out by an Elmhurst-accredited Domestic Energy Assessor.
When you need an EPC
- Selling: order it for buyers before you market the property.
- Renting out: order it for tenants before you market the property, and show it to them.
- Building a new property.
You can be fined if you do not get an EPC when you need one.
EPC ratings: A to G
A–C
The most efficient homes. Typically lower running costs. Band C is the government’s proposed 2030 minimum for privately rented homes.
D–E
Middle of the scale. Band E is the current legal minimum for most privately rented homes in England and Wales.
F–G
The least efficient homes. A private rented home rated F or G cannot be let in England and Wales unless a valid exemption is registered.
What the assessor checks
The assessor visits the property and records the details that affect its energy use, including:
- How the property is built and roughly when: walls, roof and floors
- Insulation, such as loft, wall and floor insulation where it can be seen or evidenced
- Heating and hot water: the boiler or heat pump, fuel type and heating controls
- Windows and glazing
- Lighting
- Renewables, such as solar panels
- Room measurements, to work out floor area, plus photos as evidence
An EPC is not a building survey: it doesn’t report on condition or defects. For that, see which survey you need.
How long it takes
The visit typically takes about 45 minutes, depending on the size and layout of the property. The certificate is then lodged on the government register within 24 hours of the visit.
EPC Improvement Report
Want to know how to move up a band? We also offer an EPC Improvement Report. Ask about it when you book.
How to prepare
- Make sure the assessor can get into every room, the loft hatch, the boiler and the heating controls, and the meter cupboard.
- Find any paperwork that proves improvements you cannot see: cavity or solid wall insulation guarantees, loft insulation receipts, and glazing installation dates.
- Have certificates for any heat pump, solar panels or a new boiler to hand.
- Tell us about any extensions or conversions, and roughly when they were built.
Landlords · England and Wales
Minimum EPC rules for rented homes (MEES)
The rules now
- Domestic private rented homes must have an EPC rating of at least E. This has applied to new tenancies since 1 April 2018, and to all tenancies since 1 April 2020.
- If a home is rated F or G, the landlord must improve it to E, or register a valid exemption on the PRS Exemptions Register. The current cost cap for improvements is £3,500 (including VAT) per property.
- Local authorities can issue penalties of up to £5,000 per property for breaching the rules.
What the government has announced
- In its January 2026 response, the government confirmed that all privately rented homes will need to reach EPC C by 1 October 2030, measured against new EPC metrics.
- The maximum landlords will be required to spend is £10,000 per property. A home rated C or above for energy efficiency on an EPC from before 1 October 2029 will count as compliant until that EPC expires.
- Local authorities will be able to fine up to £30,000 per property per breach.
- The changes are subject to Parliamentary approval, so details may change. The government says it will not apply the standard to short-term lets at this time, but this remains under review.
Checked on GOV.UK on 5 November 2026. This is a summary, not legal advice. Exemptions and details are on GOV.UK.
EPC questions
Do I need an EPC to sell my home?
Yes. You must have an EPC when you sell a property, and you must order it for potential buyers before you market the property.
Do I need an EPC to rent out a property?
Yes. Landlords need a valid EPC before marketing a property to rent, and tenants must be shown it. In England and Wales, a private rented home also needs a rating of at least E, unless a valid exemption is registered.
How long does an EPC last?
An EPC is valid for 10 years. You can check whether a property already has a valid EPC, and download it free, using the government’s Find an energy certificate service.
What do the ratings mean?
An EPC rates a property from A (best) to G (worst) for energy efficiency. It also shows typical energy costs and recommended steps to improve the rating.
Does a holiday let need an EPC?
GOV.UK says you do not need an EPC for holiday accommodation that is rented out for less than 4 months a year, or that is let under a licence to occupy. Other holiday lets may need one.
Will minimum EPC standards for rented homes change?
The government has announced that all privately rented homes in England and Wales will need to meet EPC C by 1 October 2030, measured using new EPC metrics. This is subject to Parliament. The current legal minimum for rented homes is E.
Who carries out the EPC?
Our EPCs are carried out by an Elmhurst-accredited Domestic Energy Assessor and lodged on the government register.
How much does an EPC cost?
Request a quote online through Survey Booker, or call us. On the booking page, choose Residential, then Domestic EPC.
How long does the EPC visit take, and when do I get the certificate?
The visit typically takes about 45 minutes. The certificate is lodged on the government register within 24 hours of the visit.
Can you advise on improving my EPC rating?
Yes. We offer an EPC Improvement Report alongside the certificate. Ask about it when you book.
Sources
EPCs by area
Local EPC pages for 193 towns and villages, with ONS EPC scores and Census heating data for each.
Need an EPC?
Request a quote online in a few minutes, or call us and we’ll arrange it.