What Does an EPC Assessor Check? Birmingham Home Visit Guide

You do not need to make the house look like a show home. Think instead about whether someone can reach the boiler, enter each room and identify the systems in the property. This guide helps homeowners and landlords organise the appointment, including homes with tenants, extensions or loft conversions.

What does the assessor look at?

The inspection records the home's dimensions, construction and energy systems. The assessor needs access to all rooms, the boiler and a safely accessible loft. Typical checks include:

• Wall and roof construction, insulation and extensions.
• Windows, glazing and the building's layout.
• Heating fuel, boiler, controls and hot water equipment.
• Lighting and relevant renewable energy systems.

The EPC describes energy performance. It does not certify that the boiler is safe or replace a maintenance inspection. The government's guide to domestic EPC assessments explains the scope and how evidence is used.

How long should you allow?

Allow roughly 30 to 60 minutes for a straightforward home, rather than treating that as a guaranteed finish time. Size and complexity matter. Elmhurst's assessment visit guide gives this as a rough range and explains that assessors take measurements and photographs of relevant features.

When booking, mention anything that could affect access: a tenant's working hours, a locked communal entrance or keys held by an agent. Agree who will meet the assessor and provide a contact number for the day. If you need to leave at a particular time, explain that before choosing the appointment.

Prepare access without taking risks

Clear ordinary obstructions around the boiler and hot water cupboard. Leave access to room doors and relevant controls. Tell the assessor about an awkward loft hatch before the visit. The assessor decides whether access is safe; do not climb into an unsafe space or dismantle anything to prepare.

The assessment is non-invasive. Elmhurst explains that hidden insulation needs supporting documentation when it cannot be observed. If you are unsure what can be reached, describe the situation when booking rather than trying to expose the material yourself.

Have a loft conversion or attic bedroom?

Mention it when arranging the visit. Under the current assessment method, rooms within the roof need more detailed recording, including their windows, walls, slopes and insulation. Existing eaves access may be relevant, and the extra measurements can extend the appointment.

Gather any building control paperwork, insulation specifications and dates of conversion work. Elmhurst's room-in-roof guidance explains why these spaces need particular attention. A finished room can hide the construction behind it, so visible plasterboard alone does not establish what insulation was installed.

Which documents are useful?

Put any available insulation installation records, glazing certificates and boiler information together. Evidence should relate to this property and the work actually completed. The assessor must decide what is acceptable; a planned-work quotation does not prove installation.

You do not need to create a large folder from scratch. Start with records you already have, and ask about anything unusual in advance. If an agent or previous owner holds the paperwork, request it before the appointment. Good preparation supports an accurate record, but cannot guarantee a particular EPC band.

Photographs, credentials and your certificate

Photographs support the assessment evidence. Ask the assessor to explain what they need to record if you have privacy concerns. You can also check their identity and accreditation. The government assessor service lets you find an accredited professional and advises checking their scheme membership.

After the assessment you receive a digital certificate. Review the property details and recommendations, and contact the assessor if something needs explaining. GOV.UK also sets out how to raise a complaint with the assessor and then their accreditation scheme if necessary.