Frequently asked questions

An Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) is a legal document that rates a building's energy efficiency on a scale from A (most efficient) to G (least efficient). It also includes recommendations for improvements that could lower energy bills and reduce carbon emissions.

An accredited assessor visits the property, records details about its construction, heating, hot water, and insulation, and produces the certificate. It's then lodged on the Scottish EPC Register, where it stays valid for 10 years.

Yes. Under Scottish regulations, a valid EPC must be available before a residential property can be marketed for sale. It needs to be shown to prospective buyers and provided to whoever takes possession of the property.

Your solicitor or estate agent will usually ask for the EPC details early in the process. If you don't already have a valid one, this is when you'll need to arrange a new assessment.

Yes. Landlords are required to have a valid EPC before marketing a residential property for rent, and a copy must be provided to new tenants. This applies to most residential lets in Scotland.

The certificate must be lodged on the Scottish EPC Register to be legally valid. We handle the lodging as part of our service.

Once lodged, an EPC is valid for 10 years. You can use the same certificate for multiple sales or new tenancies during that period, provided no major changes to the property mean the rating is significantly out of date.

If you've made improvements like a new heating system, better insulation, or upgraded windows, it can be worth getting a new EPC to reflect those changes, especially if you're selling. A better rating is a meaningful selling point.

A typical domestic EPC visit takes 30 to 60 minutes, depending on the size and complexity of the property. Larger homes, period properties, and houses with multiple extensions or unusual layouts may take longer.

You don't need to be present for the whole visit, but the assessor will need access to all rooms, the loft if accessible, and any external areas like garages or outbuildings.

The ratings reflect how energy efficient a property is. A is the most efficient (low energy use, low running costs), G is the least.

Most older Scottish homes sit somewhere in the C to E range. Newer builds, especially those constructed to recent building standards, often score B or higher. Properties with single glazing, poor insulation, or old heating systems tend to score lower.

The certificate also shows the property's environmental impact rating and recommends improvements that could raise the score.

We aim to lodge most EPCs within 48 hours of the visit. Once lodged, you'll receive a PDF copy of the certificate by email, along with the report reference number (RRN). It's then immediately accessible to anyone via the Scottish EPC Register.

If you need it urgently, let us know when booking. We can usually accommodate same-day or next-day turnaround for short-notice property transactions.

We're based in North Queensferry and cover Fife, Edinburgh, the Lothians (East, West, and Mid), Stirling, Falkirk, Clackmannanshire, and Perth & Kinross. See the full list of areas.

If you're just outside those areas, get in touch anyway. We can sometimes cover further afield, particularly for landlord portfolios with multiple properties.

Traditional Scottish properties, including stone-built houses, Georgian and Victorian terraces, and listed buildings, often need particular care during assessment. The standard assumptions used for modern properties don't always apply.

With our backgrounds in construction, we know what to look for in older buildings and how to record them accurately. This usually means a fairer rating than a generic assessment would produce, and recommendations that actually make sense for the property type.

Listed buildings still need EPCs in most circumstances, although there are some exemptions. We can advise on whether one is required for your specific situation.

Not much. Just make sure all rooms are accessible, including the loft if you have one, and any outbuildings like garages or sheds.

If you have documentation for any insulation work, double or triple glazing installation, or a relatively recent heating system, having that to hand can help the assessor record the property more accurately and potentially improve the rating. Boiler manuals, installation certificates, or invoices are all useful.

That said, if you don't have any of that, don't worry. We'll record what we can see, and the assessment proceeds either way.