EPC Certificate Scotland: Landlords and Sellers

In Scotland you need an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) when you sell a home or let it to a new tenant, and under the current rules it's valid for up to 10 years. Only a member of an approved organisation can assess the property and issue one.

We're a free matching service, not an EPC assessor. Tell us about the property and we'll pass it to a local assessor who quotes you directly.

When you need one

Landlords must give new and prospective tenants both the EPC and its Recommendations Report. If you don't get an EPC when you need one, mygov.scot says you could be fined at least £500.

What the assessor does

The assessor visits and records the things that affect how the home holds heat and what it costs to run: the walls, roof and floor, insulation, windows, the heating system and controls, and the hot water. The certificate gives the home a rating and a report with suggested improvements. Have access ready to the loft, the boiler and any meters, and dig out paperwork for work like loft or wall insulation if you have it.

What's changing in 2028

The Scottish Government is reforming EPCs. Its impact assessment, published in August 2026, says the new Energy Performance of Buildings (Scotland) Regulations are due to come into force in April 2028. The new certificates will include a Heat Retention Rating, which reflects how well the building's fabric holds heat, and new EPCs will be valid for five years instead of ten. Until then, EPCs issued under the current rules remain valid.

The proposed minimum standard for rented homes

This is a proposal, not law. The Scottish Government has proposed regulations that would require private rented homes to meet EPC Heat Retention Rating band C, unless exempt. Under the proposal, this would apply to new tenancies from 2028 and to all private rented homes by the end of 2033. The proposed exemptions cover things like consent, harm to the building's fabric or structure, a cost cap, and temporary exemptions.

The proposals went out to consultation in June 2025. As of October 2026 we haven't found any record of the regulations being laid in Parliament or made. We'll update this page if that changes.

If you let property, an EPC now gives you a picture of where it stands and what the recommendations are, so you're not starting from scratch if the proposed standard does go ahead.

Cost

EPC prices vary with the size and type of property. We haven't found a published range we're happy to cite, so we leave pricing to the assessor's quote.

Other certificates for landlords

Common questions

When do I need an EPC in Scotland?

When you sell a property, when you rent it to a new tenant (including short-term and holiday lets), and when a new build applies for its completion certificate.

How long is an EPC valid?

Up to 10 years under the current rules. Reformed EPC rules due in April 2028 will cut that to five years for new certificates.

Who can carry out an EPC assessment?

Only a member of an approved organisation can assess a property and issue an EPC in Scotland.

Do rented homes in Scotland have to be EPC band C?

Not at the moment. The Scottish Government has proposed that private rented homes meet Heat Retention Rating band C, for new tenancies from 2028 and for all private rented homes by the end of 2033. These are proposals, not law.

What happens if I don't get an EPC when I need one?

You could be fined at least £500, according to mygov.scot.

EPC certificates in Scotland for landlords and sellers