Independent EPC check: test the evidence behind your rating
An independent EPC check compares your certificate with the evidence about the property. It helps landlords and owners who think a rating looks wrong, or who need proof before they spend money on upgrades. An accredited assessor can then survey on site. A new certificate can come out lower as well as higher.
Last updated: 21 October 2026. Reviewed by Yasir Khan, Retrofit Coordinator at LAMTANS Engineering.
Ask for an independent EPC check
What an independent EPC check is
We take the details recorded on your certificate and test them against what we can see and prove. That covers the walls, loft, floor, windows, heating and floor area.
The result is an independent evidence report. It is not an EPC. Only an accredited assessor can lodge a certificate on the register, and we say so in every report.
Why EPC accuracy matters now
A rating drives decisions: whether a rental meets the rule, what upgrades to buy and whether a grant applies. The EPC C rule is confirmed government policy, not yet law, with a deadline of 1 October 2030 (checked 21 October 2026). Our EPC C 2030 guide has the details.
Evidence on accuracy is mixed but consistent. Data from the scheme audits, obtained by Which? through a freedom of information request, covered four years. It found 24% of audited certificates had a defect and 16% had a significant error. Defects include minor items, such as a missing photo.
Roughly 2% of assessments are audited each year. These figures say nothing about any one assessor or certificate. They show why checking evidence is sensible.
What we compare: common causes of a wrong rating
This table lists the details where errors are most often reported. It describes the kinds of problems, not any named assessor.
| Detail on the certificate | What we look for |
|---|---|
| Wall type | Solid or cavity, and whether a cavity is already filled |
| Loft | Depth and condition of insulation, and any boarding |
| Floor type | Suspended, solid or insulated |
| Heating and controls | Boiler type, age and the controls fitted |
| Windows | Glazing type and frame |
| Floor area and built form | Measurements and the property type recorded |
A practitioner guide and an academic study of the register both point to floor type, wall type and built form as common trouble spots. Assessors cannot always see inside walls, so they fall back on defaults based on age. That is a limit of the method, not a fault of any individual.
What you get from an independent EPC check
You receive a written independent evidence report. It sets out what was found, what the certificate records and where they differ.
- A list of the details we could confirm and those we could not.
- Photos and measurements where we visited the property.
- A plain-English view of whether a challenge looks worthwhile.
- The next step: a complaint, a new assessment or a retrofit plan.
Where the evidence supports it, you can use the report to raise a complaint through the certificate's accreditation scheme. Our guide to challenging an EPC shows the route.
Optional EPC survey by a domestic energy assessor
If you want a new certificate, an accredited domestic energy assessor visits and assesses the property. They lodge the certificate if the assessment supports one.
The new rating can be higher, the same or lower than the old one. Please weigh that before you book a survey. We do not promise a better band.
How an EPC second opinion works
- You send the property address and the certificate details through the form.
- We review the certificate against the evidence you hold and public records.
- We send the independent evidence report.
- You decide whether to complain, book a survey or plan upgrades.
What an independent EPC check costs
Market prices for a new EPC are usually quoted between £60 and £120, according to a practitioner guide checked on 21 October 2026. Our own price depends on the service you choose. Indicative price from £100 (UK market research, 2026). This is not a quote: your written quote is the confirmed price.
Spend on EPC assessments can count towards the £10,000 cost cap. That is confirmed policy, not yet law. See our cost cap and exemptions guide.
Who delivers the check
Compliant Lets is a trading name of LAMTANS Holdings Ltd. The check and any survey are delivered by LAMTANS Engineering Ltd, which has accredited domestic energy assessors and holds PAS 2030, PAS 2035, MCS and TrustMark. Check the registers yourself: TrustMark, RECC, ICO, Gas Safe Register and Simply Certification.
Our adviser tip, from a Retrofit Coordinator: gather your old certificate, any invoices for insulation or boilers, and dated photos before you ask for a check. Proof of past work often explains a low rating and speeds up everything.
Sources
- Which?: Why gaps in the data from EPC audits leave as many questions as answers, checked 21 October 2026
- GOV.UK: Get a new energy certificate, checked 21 October 2026
- GOV.UK: Government response on improving the energy performance of privately rented homes, checked 21 October 2026
- Leeds Beckett University eprint: Hardy and Glew (2019), Energy Policy study of the EPC register, checked 21 October 2026
- EPC Advisor: EPC rating wrong, how to challenge, checked 21 October 2026
Designed & developed by LAMTANS Technologies LLC, USA — part of the LAMTANS Group
Frequently asked questions
Is the independent evidence report an EPC?
No. It is an independent evidence report. Only an accredited assessor can lodge an EPC on the register.
Could a new EPC be lower than my current one?
Yes. A new assessment can come out higher, the same or lower. Weigh that before you book a survey.
Are you saying my assessor made a mistake?
No. We never accuse any assessor. We compare the certificate with the evidence and report what we find.
How common are EPC errors?
Scheme audit data obtained by Which? found 24% of audited certificates defective and 16% with significant errors. Defects include minor items. The figures do not apply to any one certificate.
How long does an independent EPC check take?
We aim to send the evidence report within 72 hours.
Do I need to be the owner?
Owners and landlords can give us access and evidence. Tenants should read our challenge guide first, as site data is normally shared only with the owner.
Will the check help me meet EPC C?
It shows whether your rating rests on sound evidence. It does not itself lift a band. Upgrades do that, and the rule is policy, not yet law.
What if the scheme upholds a complaint?
The assessor may be asked to correct the certificate. Only an accredited assessor can lodge a replacement. We explain the process in our guide.
Do I need a new EPC before upgrades?
Often yes. Government plans a new-methodology EPC before works and another after. New certificates were targeted from October 2026, but we have not confirmed they are live.
Can you recommend a retrofit plan afterwards?
Yes, if you want one. LAMTANS Engineering Ltd delivers retrofit plans. The check never obliges you to buy work.