Doorstep Report
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EPC check by address

Search an address in England or Wales to see whether an energy certificate matches it. Where one does, a Doorstep Report shows the rating, score, floor area and certificate dates alongside sale history, planning and local data.

What a report shows

  • Current and potential energy rating, where a certificate matches the address
  • Current and potential score, so you can see how close a home is to the next band
  • Floor area recorded on the certificate
  • Certificate date and expiry, with expired certificates marked
  • Heating and fabric descriptions, such as main heating, walls, roof, windows, floors and lighting, with the efficiency rating for each where recorded
  • The environmental impact score, main fuel, secondary heating and any solar panels or wind turbines on record
  • The data source and a coverage note, with energy details sourced through Street Data

What it does not show

  • Not every home has a matching certificate. A missing record says nothing about how efficient the home is.
  • An old certificate may not reflect later work, such as a new boiler, insulation or an extension. Ask the seller, and check the date.
  • The report does not list the certificate's improvement recommendations. Read those on the GOV.UK Find an energy certificate service.
  • It does not assess condition or give retrofit advice specific to a home. It is not a survey or an energy assessment. For those, use a surveyor or an accredited assessor.
  • Coverage is England and Wales. Scotland and Northern Ireland are not covered.

What an EPC check can tell you

An EPC gives you a quick, standard way to compare homes. The band and score show how the home performs on a modelled running cost measure, and the gap between current and potential ratings hints at how much could be improved. The floor area is useful when you compare asking prices with sold prices, and the descriptions of the walls, roof and heating give you specific questions for a viewing.

Read our guide to what an EPC is for the score ranges and what the rating does not measure.

Where the data comes from

EPCs are produced by accredited assessors and held on the government register. A Doorstep Report matches energy records to the address and sources them through Street Data. Matching is not perfect, particularly for flats and homes with changed addresses, so compare the floor area and property type with what you know.

If you only want a single certificate, you can check an EPC by postcode on GOV.UK for free. A report is useful when you want it alongside the other records for the same address.

How to use the result

  1. Check the certificate date. The older it is, the more likely the home has changed.
  2. Look at the score as well as the band, and at the potential rating.
  3. Ask the seller what work has been done since, and ask to see the paperwork.
  4. Open the full certificate on GOV.UK to read the recommendations and typical costs.
  5. Budget for work only after a survey and quotes. Our guides on going from E to C, D to C and improving a flat explain what usually applies.

Changes to be aware of

The minimum rating for most private lets in England and Wales is E. The government plans to raise this to a C equivalent by 1 October 2030, subject to legislation. New-style EPCs with four headline measures are planned for the second half of 2027, and existing certificates stay valid until they expire. If you plan to let a home, check the current rules before relying on its rating.

Guides on this topic

Questions, answered

Can I check an EPC for free?

Yes. The GOV.UK Find an energy certificate service is free. You can also search an address here and see the records found and their coverage for free before deciding on a full report.

Why is there no EPC for this address?

The home may never have needed one, the address may be recorded differently, or no certificate could be matched. Try the GOV.UK register as well. A missing record does not mean a problem with the home.

Does the report tell me what improvements to make?

No. It shows the certificate's rating and descriptions but not its recommendations, and it does not give retrofit advice for a specific home. Read the recommendations on the full certificate.

How up to date is the rating?

It reflects the home on the day of the assessment, which can be up to 10 years ago or longer if the certificate has expired. The report shows the certificate date and expiry so you can judge this.

Sources

Last checked 4 November 2026. General guidance for England and Wales, not legal, financial or survey advice.