Had an EPC done before 15 May 2026? When it still counts for the grant
The official guide changed the picture: an older certificate is not automatically out. Here is what the Scheme Guide actually says.
By Charis Kasiouli, Mechanical Engineer · 4 min read · Published 2026-09-07 · Updated 2026-10-11
If you arranged an Energy Performance Certificate earlier this year, thinking ahead of the Save-Upgrade Homes grant, the date it was issued matters.
When we first wrote this article, from the May 2026 announcement, we said an older certificate would not count. The official Scheme Guide (version 3.0, September 2026) is more flexible, so we have corrected it.
The initial EPC must be issued after 15 May 2026. An EPC issued earlier can still be used, if the Qualified Expert who issued it visits the home after 15 May 2026 and confirms, with a signed declaration, that it still reflects the home because no upgrades were made after it was issued.
Why the date exists
The scheme pays only for a measured before-and-after improvement, starting from a defined point. The Ministry set that point at 15 May 2026: only works carried out after that date, and after the initial certificate (or the Qualified Expert’s confirmation visit), are eligible.
What this means practically
- EPC issued after 15 May 2026: it can be your initial certificate.
- EPC issued before 15 May 2026, nothing changed since: ask the Qualified Expert who issued it for a visit after 15 May 2026 and the signed confirmation.
- EPC issued before 15 May 2026, but you have since changed something (windows, insulation, PV, air conditioning): it no longer shows the home as it is, so you need a new one.
- No EPC yet: arrange one before any works start.
- Not all of the works may be completed before you submit the application, and installing first and certifying afterwards does not qualify.
What actually gets compared
The grant is paid only if the works achieve at least a 60% reduction in primary energy use and include at least one envelope measure, measured between your initial certificate and a final one issued after the works. The final certificate has to be issued within the 12-month implementation period after approval.
The part worth planning for
An EPC has to be arranged with a Qualified Expert on the Energy Service register, who must not be related to you up to the 4th degree, and the assessment takes time to schedule. Applications are open until 30 December 2026 or until the budget runs out, so this is the step to sort first.
Full detail on what an EPC is and who can issue one is in our EPC guide. The grant itself, with every amount and deadline, is covered in Save-Upgrade Homes 2026. Source: official Scheme Guide (PDF).
Related
Based on the official Scheme Guide for the Save-Upgrade Homes 3rd Call, version 3.0, September 2026, checked 11 October 2026. Corrected from the original version of this article, which followed the May 2026 announcement.