From 1st October 2008, all rental properties with a new tenancy in England and Wales will be required to have an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC).

The government specify that landlords have an EPC certificate so your prospective tenants will be able to see at a glance how energy efficient and environmentally friendly your properties are. If you have invested in energy saving measures your properties will perform well and will really stand out from the crowd. If not you may find them harder to rent out in future.

Energy performance certificates look similar to the energy labels found on domestic appliances such as fridges and washing machines.
The energy efficiency and environmental impact of your property will be rated on a scale from A-G (where A is the most efficient and G the least efficient). Current running costs for heating, hot water and lighting will also be shown on the certificate, together with a list of recommended energy saving improvements.
Fixed price of £59 for all properties with 4 bedrooms or less, and property over this size will need an individual quotation.