# EPCs: the rating buyers now check first

> Energy ratings are shifting what homes sell for, and the rules behind them are about to change.
- Title: EPCs: the rating buyers now check first · MoneyWeek | Shortify
- Summary: Energy ratings are shifting what homes sell for, and the rules behind them are about to change. Check your EPC now: it lasts 10 years, costs £65 to £120 to…
- Keywords: property, epc, energy efficiency, landlords, home buying, EPCs, rating, buyers, check, first, MoneyWeek
- Source: MoneyWeek — https://moneyweek.com/investments/property/energy-performance-certificate-epc-rating
- Published: 2026-09-09T04:00:00+00:00
- Read time: 2 min
- Topics: property, epc, energy efficiency, landlords, home buying
## Buyers are shopping by rating
Rightmove found demand for A-rated homes rose 22% in July compared with a year earlier. Efficiency now feeds into how fast a home sells and what it fetches.

> Stronger price performance among more energy-efficient homes, while properties with lower EPC ratings are seeing smaller price growth overall.
## What an EPC actually is
Rolled out by the government in 2007, it scores a property from A, the most efficient, down to G. It also lists fixes and what each one could save you.
## It comes with a to-do list
The certificate names specific improvements for your home. That might be draught proofing around the property, or solar panels to cut the electricity bill.
## You cannot skip it
An EPC is a legal requirement for selling, renting or building. You have to order one before the property goes on the market, not after.
## Scotland has an extra rule
There you must display the certificate inside the property, next to the boiler for example. England, Wales and Northern Ireland have no such requirement.
## Check before you pay
Search gov.uk by postcode, street and town, or EPC number. The digital copy shows the expiry date and the score you could reach with improvements.
## The price of a new one
EPCs last 10 years. If yours has expired, an accredited assessor costs roughly £65 to £120 depending on the firm and the size of your home.
## Banks will often pay
Skipton members and Foundation borrowers get free EPCs, Lloyds offers them with cashback on green upgrades, Santander charges £75 and OVO bundles one into a £25 Home Health Report.
## One score becomes four
A new framework splits the rating into energy cost, fabric performance, heating system and smart readiness. Delayed from October 2026 to the second half of 2027.
## Landlords face a 2030 deadline
Rentals must hit C, up from E today, under the Minimum Energy Efficiency Standard. That means C on fabric, through insulation or double glazing, plus C on either heating or smart readiness.
## Key takeaway

Check your EPC now: it lasts 10 years, costs £65 to £120 to renew, and from 2030 landlords need a C.