Does an expired EPC affect a tenancy already running?

It does not automatically end or invalidate a tenancy. It does become an issue when you want to re-let, and it may affect other procedures, so it is worth resolving rather than leaving.

How do I check the expiry date?

Search the national register by postcode. It is free, and you do not need to give anyone your details to do it.

My certificate is old but not expired. Should I renew early?

Only if the property has been improved since, or if you need to show band C before the October 2029 grandfathering date. Otherwise there is no benefit in paying early.

My EPC has expired. What now?

An EPC is valid for ten years from the day it is lodged. After that it stays visible on the register, marked expired.

10 years

How long an EPC lasts

From the date it is lodged, not the date of the survey

What it stops you doing

Marketing the property for sale.
Marketing it to let, or starting a new tenancy.
Advertising it anywhere without showing a current energy rating.

What it does not stop

Continuing an existing tenancy. An expired EPC does not make a running tenancy unlawful on its own.
Living in your own home. There is no requirement to hold a valid EPC simply to occupy a property.

Check before you buy

The register is public and free. Before paying anyone, confirm whether your certificate has actually expired — a surprising number of people book an assessment they did not need.

Enter a postcode to see every certificate on record for it, with expiry dates.

Check the register

If you have improved the property since

Then the expiry is an opportunity rather than a chore. Work carried out after the last assessment is invisible on the register until somebody reassesses. A new certificate records it — which matters for the 2030 standard, and for anyone reading the rating when you come to sell.

Bring the paperwork. Insulation that cannot be seen and cannot be evidenced has to be recorded as though it is not there.

Common questions

Not for the expiry itself. Penalties arise from marketing a property for sale or let without a valid EPC, or from letting a property below the minimum rating without a registered exemption.