No — in most cases you cannot legally market a property for sale without a valid Energy Performance Certificate (EPC).
In England and Wales, the law requires sellers to have ordered an EPC before the property is advertised.
Estate agents must display the energy rating on property listings.
👉 In simple terms:
You can technically complete a sale, but you cannot legally advertise or market the property first — which makes selling practically impossible.
What the Law Actually Requires
Before a property goes on the market:
An EPC must be commissioned
The rating must appear on adverts
Buyers must receive the certificate
Book your EPC before listing:
https://epcrate.co.uk/booking/
What Happens If You Try to Sell Without One
You may face:
Trading standards penalties (typically around £200 per dwelling)
Estate agents refusing to list the property
Conveyancing delays
Buyers losing confidence
Check cost first:
https://epcrate.co.uk/pricing/
The Only Time You Can Still Market (Temporary Exception)
You may advertise temporarily if:
You have ordered the EPC
The assessor has been instructed
You can prove it is being produced
This is called the “reasonable efforts” rule — but you must still obtain the certificate quickly.
Services explained:
https://epcrate.co.uk/services-epc-assessors-london/
Properties That May Be Exempt
Some buildings do not require an EPC:
Listed buildings (where upgrades alter character)
Places of worship
Temporary buildings under 2 years
Detached buildings under 50m² not used as dwellings
Buildings due for demolition
Simple Explanation
You don’t need a good EPC to sell —
but you must have an EPC in progress before marketing and completed shortly after.
Need help urgently:
https://epcrate.co.uk/contact-us-epc-services-london/
Office: 150–160 City Road, London, EC1V 2NX
Phone: 020 3488 4142
Email: info@epcrate.co.uk
