EPC (Energy Performance Certificate)

Understanding the Energy Performance Certificate

The EPC measures a home’s energy consumption and its impact on the climate. It translates this information into two graded labels from A to G: one for energy performance, the other for greenhouse gas emissions. Since the overhaul of July 2021, it has relied on the 3CL calculation method rather than on utility bills. It is now what is known as an opposable EPC, one that a buyer or tenant can legally rely on.

What is it actually for?

Far more than a formality, the EPC has become a central reference in the property market. It informs future occupants about thermal comfort and the expected cost of heating, while helping to prioritise renovation work. Its rating directly influences a property’s value and its long-term ability to be rented out.

Who is concerned, and when?

An EPC is required for any sale as well as for any rental of a home, whether a house or a flat. It must be carried out before the property goes on the market, because its result, and in particular the energy letter, must appear in the listing from the moment it is published.

What the assessor records

The professional gathers a series of factual details about the building and its equipment in order to feed the regulatory calculation:

• The living area, orientation and layout of the home
• The nature of the walls, floors and roof and their insulation
• The type of joinery and glazing
• The heating, hot water production and ventilation systems
• Any renewable energy sources present

How the visit unfolds

The assessment usually lasts between thirty minutes and one hour depending on the size of the property. The assessor needs access to every room, the loft space and the technical equipment. Gathering in advance any invoices for insulation work, boiler manuals or renovation records helps refine the result and gives credit for improvements already made.

What the report contains

The report presents both labels, an estimate of annual consumption, a detailed description of the home and its equipment, and prioritised renovation recommendations with their energy benefit. It also shows a theoretical range of energy costs, now displayed to inform the occupant clearly.

How long does it remain valid?

An EPC is valid for ten years. One important exception remains, however: certificates issued before 2018 are no longer valid, and those produced between 2018 and 2021, before the new method, have a reduced period of validity. When in doubt about the age of an EPC, it is safer to have it redone in order to hold a reliable, opposable document.

Energy sieves: a tightening framework

Homes rated F and G, known as thermal sieves, are subject to specific measures: a rent freeze and a gradual timetable banning them from being rented out. Homes rated G are targeted in 2025, those rated F in 2028, then those rated E in 2034. Anticipating these deadlines through targeted work protects the property’s rental value.

What are the risks without a valid EPC?

A missing, expired or inaccurate EPC exposes the seller or landlord to penalties and to a challenge over the transaction, since the document is now opposable. A buyer or tenant who found a significant discrepancy could hold the owner liable. The reliability of the certificate is therefore a legal as much as a commercial matter.

How much does an EPC cost?

The price depends on several factors: the surface area and layout of the home, its year of construction, its location, and whether it is combined with other mandatory diagnostics. Having several diagnostics carried out during a single visit generally helps optimise the overall cost of the file.

Frequently asked questions

Is an EPC required for a new-build home?

Yes. An EPC must be drawn up when a new build is completed, and again for any later sale or rental, just as for an existing home.

Can I sell a property rated G?

Selling a home rated G remains possible. Renting it out, however, is progressively banned under the regulatory timetable, which is worth bearing in mind before buying with the aim of letting.

Does the EPC take my consumption habits into account?

No. Since 2021 the calculation has been based on the characteristics of the building and its equipment, regardless of the occupants’ lifestyle, which makes the result comparable from one home to another.