Your EPC rating and solar funding

What an EPC tells you

An Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) rates how energy efficient your home is. It gives a band from A, the best, to G, the worst. GOV.UK says an EPC is valid for 10 years.

Solar funding schemes use that band as a test. They aim help at less efficient homes. For that reason, a lower band can help you qualify, while a higher band can rule you out.

This guide explains the rules as of October 2026. It does not promise funding, and each scheme makes its own decision.

England: the Warm Homes: Local Grant

The Warm Homes: Local Grant needs an EPC of D, E, F or G. Homes rated A to C are not eligible. The home must also be in England and privately owned, by you or your landlord.

You do not have to find your rating first. GOV.UK says that if you do not know your home’s EPC, you can find it out when you apply. For the full set of rules, see solar funding routes in England.

The grant is the first step towards the aims in the Warm Homes Plan. Your council still decides what to fund, and funding is local. For example, one council may have money for panels while a neighbouring one does not.

Wales: Nest

Nest uses the band in a stricter way. As of October 2026, the Welsh Government asks for a rating of 54 (E) or less. If someone in the household has an eligible health condition, a rating of 68 (D) or less can count.

Homes rated D without a qualifying condition go on a reserve list. You can read how the other tests work on our page about solar funding routes in Wales. Always check the official eligibility page, because the pages are undated.

ECO4 and other schemes

ECO4 uses the same band test. Ofgem says only homes in bands D to G can be treated. The scheme runs until 31 December 2026, so time is short.

Since each scheme sets its own band, a certificate that works for one may not work for another. Therefore, write down your band and its date before you start. It will save you time on every form.

Scotland and Northern Ireland

Scotland keeps EPCs on its own register. The Scottish Government says you can check whether your home has one by searching with your postcode. Not every older certificate is on it.

In Northern Ireland, nidirect says an EPC is valid for 10 years and held on a national register. The GOV.UK finder covers England, Wales and Northern Ireland. As a result, you can search one service for all three.

How to find your EPC

Use the right service for your nation. Try these steps:

• Go to the GOV.UK “Find an energy certificate” service in England, Wales or Northern Ireland.
• Search by postcode, by street name and town, or by certificate number.
• In Scotland, use the Scottish EPC Register instead.
• Look for the date, because an old certificate may be out of date.

If you cannot find one, you may not have one. Scotland also notes that central lodgement was phased in, so an older certificate may be missing from the register.

When to get a new EPC

A new EPC can be worth it if yours has expired or does not exist. GOV.UK says you can find an accredited assessor, and that the cost varies by assessor and the size of the property.

However, do not rush into it. A new certificate reflects your home today, so your band could go up or down. For the English grant, you can learn your band during the application. Therefore, ask the scheme what it needs before you pay.

Landlords and tenants

Rented homes have extra rules. In England and Wales, a property with an EPC of F or G that is let on certain tenancy types must meet a minimum standard. Landlords are not currently required to spend more than £3,500 including VAT on improvements.

The Warm Homes Plan says the government plans to ask landlords to reach EPC band C by October 2030, with a spending cap of £10,000. These are proposals, not rules yet, so check GOV.UK for updates. Our guide to solar panels for renters and landlords covers what each side can do.

What your band does not tell you

Your EPC band does not show whether solar panels will suit your roof, although it may hint at how efficient the home is. It also does not show what panels would cost. For that, you need a proper survey, because roofs and budgets differ.

Before you sign for anything, read how to check an MCS certified installer and how to compare solar quotes. If you plan to add a battery, see solar battery funding in the UK. If you want to borrow, work through our solar panel finance checklist first.