How to Prepare for an EPC Assessment in London: Complete Guide

If you are selling, renting or preparing a property for the London market, arranging an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) is an important part of the process.

An EPC provides an energy efficiency rating from A to G and includes recommendations for possible improvements. In England, an EPC is generally required when a property is sold or rented, subject to applicable exemptions. GOV.UK also states that an EPC should be ordered before the property is marketed for sale or rent.

Before the assessor arrives, there are several simple things you can do to make the assessment easier and help ensure the relevant information about your property is available.

What Is an EPC Assessment?

An EPC assessment is an inspection carried out by an accredited energy assessor.

The assessor collects information about the property and its energy-related features. This can include aspects such as the property’s construction, insulation, windows, heating system, hot water system and lighting.

The information is then used to produce an EPC with an energy efficiency rating from A to G.

If you want to understand exactly what an assessor looks at, read our guide on what an EPC assessment includes.

For official information about EPC requirements when selling or renting a property, you can also refer to the GOV.UK Energy Performance Certificates guidance.

Check Whether You Already Have a Valid EPC

Before booking a new assessment, check whether your property already has an EPC.

An EPC is generally valid for 10 years unless it has been replaced by a newer certificate. This means you may not need to arrange another assessment simply because you are selling or renting the property again.

You can search for an existing certificate through the official GOV.UK Find an Energy Certificate service.

Checking first can save you time and avoid arranging an unnecessary assessment.

If your certificate has expired, our guide on what to do when an EPC expires in London explains the next steps.

Make Sure the Property Can Be Accessed

One of the simplest ways to prepare for an EPC assessment is to make sure the assessor can access the property.

If possible, arrange access to all relevant areas of the property, including:

• Bedrooms

• Living rooms

• Kitchens

• Bathrooms

• Hallways

• Loft areas where applicable

• Heating equipment

• Hot water systems

• Any extensions or additional areas

If the property is occupied, make sure the assessor can move around the property safely and inspect the relevant features.

For landlords, this is particularly important when preparing a property between tenancies.

Our EPC checklist for landlords provides additional steps to consider before marketing a rental property.

Keep Information About Recent Improvements Available

If you have recently improved the property, keep any relevant information available for the assessor.

For example, this could include information about:

• New boilers

• Replacement windows

• Loft insulation

• Wall insulation

• Heating controls

• Solar panels

• New lighting

• Hot water improvements

• Other energy-efficiency upgrades

You should not assume that every improvement will automatically produce a particular EPC rating. The final rating depends on the property’s characteristics and the assessment methodology.

However, having useful information about recent work available can help provide context about the property’s current features.

If your goal is to improve the property’s energy performance, see our guide on how to improve your EPC rating before selling or letting.

Check Your Heating and Hot Water Systems

Heating and hot water are important parts of an EPC assessment.

Before the assessment, make sure the relevant equipment is accessible.

For example, if your property has a boiler, make sure the assessor can identify and inspect the relevant information where required.

You do not necessarily need to replace your heating system before an EPC assessment.

Instead, review the recommendations from your existing EPC and consider which improvements are practical for your property.

Check Windows and Insulation

Windows, walls, roofs and insulation can all form part of the information considered during an EPC assessment.

If you have recently installed double glazing or added insulation, make sure the assessor can identify the relevant features.

For older London properties, particularly properties with extensions or different construction types, it can be useful to have information about previous improvements available.

Remember that an EPC is not simply a visual inspection of how modern a property looks. The assessment considers specific property characteristics and energy-related features.

Do Not Make Expensive Improvements Just Before the Assessment Without Checking First

If your existing EPC has a low rating, it can be tempting to make expensive changes immediately.

However, it is worth reviewing the recommendations first.

Your EPC recommendation report can provide information about potential energy-efficiency improvements. The suitability, cost and potential benefit of each measure can vary between properties.

For example, improving insulation may make sense for one property, while heating improvements may be more appropriate for another.

Our article EPC Rating Explained: What A to G Means for London Property Owners explains how the rating works and what the different bands mean.

Preparing for an EPC When Selling Your London Property

If you are selling a property, arrange the EPC early enough to avoid making it a last-minute task.

An EPC is generally required before a property is marketed for sale, subject to applicable exemptions.

You can therefore include the EPC in your wider property preparation process alongside:

• Property photography

• Floor plans

• Property description

• Room measurements

• Marketing information

• Estate agent arrangements

Our guide to EPC requirements when selling a property in London explains the process in more detail.

You can also read our London property marketing checklist for a broader preparation guide.

Preparing for an EPC When Renting Out Your London Property

Landlords should check their property’s EPC before advertising it for rent.

If there is already a valid EPC, check its rating and expiry date.

If the certificate has expired or the property does not have a required EPC, arrange a new assessment before marketing.

For properties covered by the domestic private rented property Minimum Energy Efficiency Standards, GOV.UK currently states that the property generally needs an EPC rating of E or above unless a valid exemption applies.

You can read the latest GOV.UK guidance for domestic private rented properties for the current requirements and exemptions.

For a practical landlord-focused checklist, see our EPC Checklist for Landlords.

Prepare Your Other Property Marketing Materials

An EPC is only one part of preparing a property for the market.

If you are selling or letting a property, you may also need professional photographs and a floor plan.

Good property photography can help present the rooms clearly, while a floor plan allows potential buyers or tenants to understand the property’s layout.

If you are preparing everything at the same time, arranging these services together can make the process easier.

You can read our Property Photography Checklist before arranging photography.

Our Rental Property Listing Checklist also covers EPCs, photographs and floor plans for rental properties.

How Much Does an EPC Cost in London?

The cost of an EPC can vary depending on the size and type of property and the provider.

EPC Rate London currently lists domestic EPC options starting from £45 for a studio flat, with different prices for larger properties.

For current information, see our EPC Cost London 2026 guide.

You can also check the current options on our EPC pricing page before booking.

What Happens After the Assessment?

Once the assessment has been completed, the next step is to review the EPC.

Check:

• Your EPC rating

• The certificate’s validity

• The property’s energy information

• Recommended improvements

• Any information that may be relevant to selling or renting

If you receive a lower rating than expected, do not assume that you need to carry out every recommendation immediately.

Instead, consider which improvements are suitable for your property and your plans.

For more information, read What Happens After an EPC Assessment?.

A Simple EPC Preparation Checklist

Before your assessor arrives, use this quick checklist:

EPC

• Check whether the property already has a valid EPC

• Check the EPC expiry date

• Review your current EPC rating

• Review the recommendation report

• Arrange a new assessment if required

Property access

• Make sure the assessor can access the property

• Provide access to relevant rooms

• Make heating and hot water equipment accessible

• Make sure loft or other relevant areas can be inspected where appropriate

Property information

• Keep information about recent improvements available

• Note recent heating or insulation upgrades

• Have information about replacement windows where available

• Keep details of relevant energy-efficiency improvements

Selling or renting

• Arrange the EPC before marketing where required

• Prepare property photographs

• Arrange a floor plan

• Prepare the property description

• Check the latest government requirements

Final Thoughts

Preparing for an EPC assessment does not have to be complicated.

Start by checking whether your property already has a valid certificate. If you need a new assessment, make sure the assessor can access the relevant areas of the property and keep information about recent improvements available.

Once the EPC is completed, review the rating and recommendations before deciding what to do next.

If you are preparing a London property for sale or rent, an EPC can also be organised alongside your wider marketing preparation, including professional photography and floor plans.

If you need an EPC in London, you can check EPC pricing or book an EPC assessment with EPC Rate London.