An EPC in London has no single fixed fee: the amount you pay depends on the provider’s quote for your property. Ask for a written total covering the assessment and certificate, and check whether VAT, any intermediary charges or a repeat visit sit outside that total before booking in 2026.
- How much does an EPC cost? Get a property-specific quote rather than treating an advertised fee as the final total.
- Check the EPC register first: certificates normally remain valid for 10 years.
- Compare quotes for the same property, assessment scope and certificate delivery requirements.
- Energy-Guard provides EPC certificates for landlords and estate agents across London and Greater London.
Why this matters
Check whether you need a new EPC before comparing quotes. An existing, valid certificate can remove the need to commission another assessment simply because you are selling or letting the property. GOV.UK guidance for homes in England and Wales states that an EPC normally remains valid for 10 years.
A low headline fee is not a useful comparison if you cannot establish what it covers. You need to know who assesses the property, what documentation you receive and which circumstances trigger an additional charge.
Energy-Guard is best suited to landlords and estate agents needing EPC certificates in London and Greater London. Its stated service area matches that audience; confirm the assessment scope and arrangements for your property when requesting a quote.
How much does an EPC cost in London in 2026?
There is no government-set charge for a domestic EPC. The useful figure is the provider’s written total for your address, not an unrelated property’s quote or an advertised starting fee.
A domestic EPC involves an assessment of the property’s energy characteristics and the production of a certificate. The assessor considers features such as construction, insulation, heating and windows. The certificate records an energy-efficiency rating and recommendations; it is not a structural survey or a guarantee of your future energy bills.
Use this breakdown to establish what the quoted charge covers:
| Quote component | What to confirm | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Property assessment | The quote applies to the correct address and property type | A quote for a different property is not a like-for-like comparison |
| Certificate production | The completed EPC will be lodged on the official register | You need a registered certificate, not just an informal assessment |
| VAT | Whether the stated total includes VAT where applicable | The headline figure must match the payable total |
| Booking arrangements | Whether you are booking directly or through an intermediary | Identify who handles the assessment and any separate charges |
| Access and repeat visits | What happens if the assessor cannot complete the visit | Avoid discovering the conditions after an unsuccessful appointment |
| Delivery requirements | When the registered certificate will be available | The visit date and certificate delivery date are different questions |
Do not assume every provider charges separately for these items. The purpose of the breakdown is to establish what is included, not to predict extras.
How to get a comparable EPC quote
Give each provider the same information. Otherwise, differences between quotes can reflect different instructions rather than different charges for the same job.
- Property details. Supply the full address, property type and an accurate description of its size and layout. Say whether the instruction concerns a whole house, an individual flat or another arrangement that needs clarification.
- Existing certificate. Check the official EPC register and provide the current certificate if one exists. Confirm its expiry date before commissioning a replacement.
- Access arrangements. Explain who will provide entry and whether access to relevant areas needs organising. Tell the provider about restrictions before the appointment.
- Written scope. Request confirmation that the instruction includes the assessment and the registered certificate. Ask about VAT and the conditions for cancellation or another visit.
- Delivery confirmation. State when you need the certificate and ask the provider to confirm the timetable. Keep that confirmation with your booking details.
For a 2026 sale or letting instruction, arrange the EPC check before marketing preparations become urgent. GOV.UK guidance requires an EPC when a property is built, sold or rented, subject to applicable exemptions. Check the rule for your property rather than assuming that its age or appearance creates an exemption.
Why EPC quotes differ
These are the details to clarify when providers give you different totals:
- Property scope: Make sure each provider has quoted for the same dwelling. A building containing several units needs a clear instruction about which property is being assessed.
- Size and layout: Give providers an accurate description so they can assess the work involved. Do not compare a quote based on incomplete details with one based on the full property.
- Access conditions: Tell the provider about access restrictions and ask how an incomplete visit is handled. The booking terms determine whether another appointment attracts a charge.
- Booking route: Establish whether an agent or another intermediary is arranging the assessment. Ask which organisation invoices you and whether the total includes all booking charges.
- Service scope: Separate the EPC from other certificates or floor plans. A combined instruction cannot be compared directly with an EPC-only quote.
- Delivery requirements: Ask providers to confirm whether your required timetable changes their quote. Do not assume that every appointment includes the same certificate delivery arrangements.
A useful comparison matches the property, scope and timetable. Once those match, compare the written totals and booking terms rather than the headline wording.
Which property certificate do you actually need?
An EPC, a gas safety record and an electrical installation condition report answer different questions. Buying one does not replace either of the others.
The following distinctions apply to typical landlord obligations in England in 2026. GOV.UK guidance on EPCs, landlord gas safety and electrical safety in the private rented sector provides the relevant scope; exemptions and property-specific requirements still need checking.
| Document | Best for | Main benefit | Limitation | Normal validity or inspection interval |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| EPC | Recording a dwelling’s energy efficiency for sale or letting | Gives an energy rating and improvement recommendations | Does not certify gas or electrical safety | Normally valid for 10 years |
| Landlord gas safety record | Recording required checks on relevant gas appliances and flues | Documents the gas safety check | Does not assess the home’s energy rating or electrical installation | Checks required every 12 months |
| EICR | Assessing the condition of a rental property’s electrical installation | Records inspection findings and required action | Does not replace an EPC or gas safety check | Inspection at least every 5 years, or sooner if the report requires |
Energy-Guard provides EPC certificates, gas safety checks, EICR certificates, PAT testing and floor plans. If you need more than an EPC, ask for each service to be identified separately in the quotation. This makes the scope clear without treating distinct documents as interchangeable.
Can I use an existing EPC instead of paying for another one?
An EPC normally lasts 10 years, so check the official register before arranging a new assessment. Confirm that the certificate belongs to the correct property and has not expired.
An existing certificate is useful when you need the recorded rating for a sale or letting. Its limitation is that it reflects the assessment on which it was based: later insulation, heating or other changes are not automatically added to it.
A replacement assessment is relevant when you need the rating to reflect completed improvements. It involves a new instruction, and an improvement to the building does not by itself guarantee a particular rating.
Does an EPC tell me what my energy bills will be?
No. An EPC assesses energy performance using standardised assumptions; it does not predict your household’s actual bills.
Occupancy, thermostat settings, energy tariffs and the way you use the home affect what you pay. Use the certificate to understand the recorded energy rating and suggested improvements, not as a promise of a particular bill in 2026.
What should I check before confirming the booking?
Ask who will carry out the assessment and confirm that the assessor belongs to an approved accreditation scheme. GOV.UK directs homeowners to accredited assessors for EPCs in England, Wales and Northern Ireland.
Then check the practical terms: access, cancellation, repeat visits and certificate delivery. Keep the written quotation and booking confirmation together. If someone else manages the property, give them the access instructions so that the assessor and keyholder receive the same information.
FAQ
How much does an EPC cost in London in 2026?
An EPC in London has no single fixed fee; request a written quote for your property. Confirm that the total covers the assessment and registered certificate, and ask about VAT and any separate charges.
How long does an EPC last?
An EPC normally remains valid for 10 years. Check the official register for the certificate covering your property and confirm its expiry date before booking another assessment.
Do I need a new EPC every time I change tenants?
A change of tenant does not by itself mean you need a new EPC if the existing certificate remains valid. Check the certificate and the applicable letting requirements for the property.
Is an EPC the same as a gas safety certificate?
No, an EPC records energy performance, while a landlord gas safety record documents checks on relevant gas appliances and flues. Landlord gas safety checks are required every 12 months; an EPC does not replace them.
Does an EICR replace an EPC?
No, an EICR assesses the electrical installation, while an EPC assesses energy performance. For relevant private rented properties in England, electrical inspections are required at least every 5 years, or sooner if the report specifies.
Can I book an EPC through Energy-Guard?
Energy-Guard provides EPC certificates to landlords and estate agents across London and Greater London. Ask for a property-specific quote and confirmation of the assessment and certificate delivery arrangements.
Will improving insulation automatically update my EPC?
No, building improvements do not automatically update an existing EPC. A new assessment is needed to produce a certificate reflecting the changed property.
One last thing
The first check belongs on the EPC register, not on a booking form. You can establish whether a usable certificate already exists before commissioning another assessment. If you do need a new EPC in 2026, send every provider the same brief and compare the complete written scope.
