EPC reminders for landlords in England and Wales

Published 21 October 2026 · Updated 21 October 2026

How long does a landlord's EPC last, and what rating is required?

It depends on whether a newer certificate has been registered, and on whether the minimum standard applies to the let. As of October 2026, regulation 9 of the Energy Performance of Buildings (England and Wales) Regulations 2012 says an energy performance certificate is valid for the purposes of that Part only if it was entered on the register no more than 10 years before the date it is made available, and no other energy performance certificate for the building has since been entered on the register. An EPC lasts 10 years. A newer certificate on the register replaces it before those 10 years are up.

For a domestic private rented property in England and Wales, regulation 22 of the Energy Efficiency (Private Rented Property) (England and Wales) Regulations 2015 sets the minimum level of energy efficiency at an energy performance indicator of band E. A property below that level (band F or G) is sub-standard. Regulation 23 says a landlord of a sub-standard domestic private rented property must not let it unless regulation 25, or one or more of the exemptions in Chapter 4, applies. Continuing lets are covered from 1 April 2020.

Regulation 24 sets the cost cap at £3,500, including VAT, less the cost of unregistered energy efficiency improvements made to the property since 1 October 2017. The EPC rules guide walks through exemptions, the register and penalties. Scotland and Northern Ireland have their own EPC rules. The landlord certificates guide links those pages.

The date to put in the reminder

Save the date the certificate stops being valid: 10 years after it was entered on the register, or sooner if you commission a new one. The certificate from the purchase is easy to treat as current after it has dropped off the register. Look it up before you rely on the old PDF.

How Gaffy reminds you

Upload the EPC on the property and enter the expiry date. Gaffy emails you, and writes an in-app reminder, 90 days, 30 days and 7 days before that date, and once the date has passed. On the document you can pause reminders for 30 days. Certificate expiry reminders can be switched off in settings.

You commission the assessor. Gaffy keeps the certificate on the property and sends the reminder. Ten years is long enough for the file to leave the inbox you used when you bought the property.

As of October 2026, Gaffy is free for the first month, with no card needed to start, then £12 a month for up to 5 properties, plus £4 a month for each additional property.

Start free for 1 month

Sources

Read on legislation.gov.uk. This page is general information, not legal advice.

EPC reminder FAQs

How long does an EPC last?

10 years, under regulation 9 of the Energy Performance of Buildings (England and Wales) Regulations 2012, and only while it is the latest certificate on the register. A newer energy performance certificate for the same building replaces it.

What EPC rating do I need to let a home in England or Wales?

Band E is the minimum level of energy efficiency for a domestic private rented property, under regulation 22 of the Energy Efficiency (Private Rented Property) (England and Wales) Regulations 2015. A landlord must not let a property below that level unless regulation 25 or a Chapter 4 exemption applies.

What is the £3,500 EPC cost cap?

Regulation 24 sets the cost cap at £3,500 including VAT, less the cost of unregistered energy efficiency improvements made to the property since 1 October 2017. The EPC rules guide covers how that cap is used.

When does Gaffy email me about an EPC?

When the EPC is saved on the property with an expiry date, Gaffy emails you and writes an in-app reminder 90 days, 30 days and 7 days before that date, and once the date has passed. You can pause reminders for 30 days on the document.