EPC for Rental Property in London: Landlord Checklist
Preparing a rental property for a new tenant involves more than finding an estate agent and publishing an advert. Landlords also need to make sure the property has the appropriate documentation and that the listing provides useful information for prospective tenants.
One important part of this process is the Energy Performance Certificate (EPC).
An EPC provides an energy-efficiency rating for a property and includes information about its energy performance. For properties covered by the EPC rules, landlords should make sure the appropriate certificate is available before marketing the property.
If you are preparing a London rental property, this checklist can help you organise the process from the EPC assessment through to the final property listing.
1. Check Whether Your Property Has a Valid EPC
Start by checking whether the property already has an EPC.
An existing certificate may still be valid, so there may not be a need to arrange another assessment immediately.
You can check the official GOV.UK Find an Energy Certificate service to look for an existing certificate.
GOV.UK states that an EPC is generally valid for 10 years, although landlords should always check the current requirements that apply to their property. (gov.uk)
If your certificate has expired or the property does not have the required EPC, you may need to arrange a new assessment.
For more information, read our guide to EPC Certificate Renewal in London.
2. Understand the Current EPC Rating
Once you locate the certificate, check the property’s current energy rating.
EPC ratings range from A to G, with A representing the highest energy efficiency and G the lowest. The certificate also provides recommendations for potential improvements. (gov.uk)
Understanding the current rating can help you identify whether there are recommendations worth considering before the property is rented out.
You can learn more about the meaning of each rating in our guide Understanding EPC Ratings: What Your Grade Means.
3. Check the Property Before the EPC Assessment
If you need a new EPC, prepare the property before the assessor arrives.
Make sure the assessor can access the relevant areas of the property and that important heating and hot-water equipment is accessible.
You can also gather any useful information you have about the property, such as details about heating systems, insulation or improvements.
Our How to Prepare for an EPC Assessment in London: A Practical Checklist provides additional preparation advice.
A little preparation can make the appointment more straightforward.
4. Review the EPC Recommendations
After the assessment, read through the recommendations included with the certificate.
The recommendations can identify possible improvements relating to areas such as:
Heating
Insulation
Windows
Lighting
Heating controls
Renewable technologies
Not every recommendation will necessarily be appropriate for every landlord or property.
Consider the property’s condition, your plans for the property and the likely cost of any improvement before arranging work.
If you are considering improving an existing rating, our guide How to Improve Your EPC Rating From D to C in London explains some of the areas landlords and homeowners may want to investigate.
5. Check the Current Rules Before Advertising
EPC requirements can change, so landlords should check current government guidance rather than relying on old advice found online.
GOV.UK provides guidance on EPC requirements when selling or letting property, including information about when an EPC is required and relevant exemptions. (gov.uk)
For this reason, treat your EPC as one part of the compliance checklist rather than the entire process.
If you are unsure whether an exemption applies, check the current official guidance or obtain appropriate professional advice.
6. Prepare the Property for Photography
Once the EPC side is organised, start preparing the property for marketing.
Professional photographs are often used as the first visual introduction to a rental property.
Before photography:
Remove unnecessary clutter
Clean the main rooms
Open curtains and blinds
Make beds
Tidy kitchens and bathrooms
Clear worktops
Present outdoor areas neatly
Turn on suitable lights where appropriate
For more ideas, see Property Photography London: Why Professional Photos Matter.
Good preparation also makes it easier for an estate agent or landlord to create a consistent property listing.
7. Arrange a Professional Floor Plan
A floor plan provides information that photographs cannot easily show.
It can help prospective tenants understand:
Room locations
Room proportions
Bedroom positions
Kitchen location
Living areas
Access between rooms
Overall layout
Our guide Professional Floor Plans London: Why Buyers Love Floor Plans explains why floor plans are useful when people are comparing properties online.
For rental listings, a clear floor plan can also help prospective tenants decide whether the layout suits their needs before arranging a viewing.
8. Prepare the Property Description
Your rental listing should accurately describe the property.
Consider including:
Number of bedrooms
Number of bathrooms
Property type
Approximate location
Key features
Outdoor space
Parking information where applicable
Heating information
Furnished or unfurnished status
Available date
Relevant EPC information
Avoid adding claims that you cannot substantiate.
The EPC, photographs and floor plan should all relate to the same property and present consistent information.
9. Check Your Property Listing Before It Goes Live
Before publishing the rental advert, go through the complete listing.
EPC
☐ Valid EPC checked
☐ Current rating recorded
☐ Relevant requirements reviewed
Photography
☐ Main rooms photographed
☐ Exterior photographed
☐ Images are clear and current
Floor plan
☐ Correct property
☐ Layout is clear
☐ Room information is accurate
Description
☐ Number of bedrooms checked
☐ Property features checked
☐ Location information checked
☐ Availability date checked
This final review can help prevent simple errors from appearing in the published listing.
10. Consider Combining EPC, Photography and Floor Plan Services
Landlords often arrange different property services separately.
That can mean coordinating several appointments and communicating with multiple providers.
Urgent EPC provides Residential EPC, professional property photography and floor plans, allowing landlords and estate agents to organise several important property marketing requirements together.
Our recent guide Complete Property Marketing Package: EPC, Photography & Floor Plan in One Booking explains how these services can be combined.
This can be particularly useful when a property needs to be prepared for marketing quickly.
What If You Are Renting Out a Flat?
Flats can involve additional considerations during an EPC assessment.
For example, the property’s construction, heating arrangement and access to relevant systems may affect what the assessor needs to consider.
If you are renting out a London flat, read EPC for Flats in London: What Owners Need to Know before arranging the assessment.
You can also read Selling or Letting a Flat in London: Your EPC, Assessment Day and Marketing Package Guide for a broader preparation guide.
A Simple London Rental Property Checklist
Before advertising your rental property, work through these steps:
Step 1: Check whether an EPC already exists.
Step 2: Confirm the certificate is valid.
Step 3: Review the current EPC rating.
Step 4: Arrange a new assessment if required.
Step 5: Review the recommendations.
Step 6: Check the current government requirements.
Step 7: Prepare the property for photography.
Step 8: Arrange a professional floor plan.
Step 9: Write accurate property information.
Step 10: Check the complete listing before publication.
Final Thoughts
Preparing a rental property properly can make the marketing process more organised.
Start with the EPC and make sure you understand the current requirements. Then prepare the property’s photographs, floor plan and description so prospective tenants have the information they need when viewing the listing online.
If you need an EPC, floor plan or professional property photography in London, contact Urgent EPC to discuss your property requirements.
For current EPC rules and requirements, always refer to the latest GOV.UK EPC guidance.
