Energy certificate: how to obtain it, what it is for and how much it costs

The energy certificate is a document related to the purchase and sale of a home.

Every owner who wants to sell or rent their home must have the energy efficiency certificate in compliance with royal decree 235/2013, of April 5. But how do you obtain this document? How much does it cost? Is it mandatory in all cases? What is it for?

What is the energy certificate and what is it for?

The energy certificate is a document that details the energy efficiency rating and consumption of a building or part of it (home, premises, office, etc.). In addition, it provides information about the different energy characteristics of the home, such as:

Energy class: The level of energy efficiency of the house is described on a scale ranging from A (very efficient) to G (very poor). According to the OCU, homes with energy label E would be paying 1,000 euros more per year for air conditioning. The cost of properly insulating a 90 m2 apartment amounts to around 11,500 euros, which could be reduced by 40% by taking advantage of the subsidies. Regarding climatic zone D, the second coldest, the prices of a renovation vary between 3,200 and 10,500 euros, depending on the level of the renovation. The savings could range between 165 and 975 euros per year.

Evaluates window insulation, ventilation, air conditioning and hot water production and their effect on energy consumption. Indicates improvement measures to reduce energy consumption and improve comfort, providing the estimated price of each one and the estimated savings on the electricity bill.

It is by law to inform potential buyers or tenants of a property about its energy efficiency, which allows them to know the energy cost that living in said home will entail.

Allows access to tax benefits: As the Tax Agency explains, "three new temporary deductions applicable to the full state personal income tax quota have been implemented for the amounts invested in rehabilitation works that contribute to achieving certain improvements in the energy efficiency of homes. (habitual or leased) and in residential buildings that are accredited through an energy efficiency certificate".

The energy certificate, is it mandatory?

The owner or developer who wants to sell or rent their home must have the energy certificate updated. Specifically, it is mandatory for habitual homes, holiday homes, premises, as well as for buildings with a total useful area greater than 500 m2 and intended for other uses. Also for buildings such as schools, hospitals, offices, etc.

In addition, both the owner and the developer are responsible for delivering it to the buyer or showing it to the tenant, which is also a way of adding value to a home.

How to process the energy certificate?

To obtain the energy certificate you can do it in two ways: one of them is to follow the steps that we tell you below, or you can count on the help of homes-abroad.com by giving us the information about your home. We will contact you to manage the next steps and you will receive the energy certificate in your email in no time. These are the steps to follow and what we do for you:

Choose a company, architect, engineer or licensed technician: Research and request proposals from several qualified experts working in your area. The price of the services charged by the expert must correspond to the value and quality that the expert brings to the work in issuing the certificate and the availability of clarification and interaction between the expert and the owner. Once an option has been chosen, the technician will have to collect information about the home by going to it in person (walls, windows, air conditioning, heating, orientation and dimension, among others). Afterwards, it will carry out the calculations that define the energy rating of the property.

Gather the necessary documentation: Before the technician's visit, gather all the documentation related to your home (such as the plan or technical sheet of the home). Consulting all the documents allows an assessment that is more adjusted to the reality of the home.

Facilitate the visit: The appointment with the expert is mandatory, so you must facilitate access to all spaces in the home to allow the collection of information. It is illegal to make an energy certificate by hearsay, by video call or based solely on photographs. What's more, it is punishable as a very serious infraction with fines of 1,001 to 6,000 euros, according to Royal Legislative Decree 7/2015. If you contract the service with homes-abroad.com, the technician who will visit the property is one you can trust. Thus, we avoid fraud situations that are occurring due to the issuance of illegal energy certificates.

Follow the certification process and evaluate, with the expert, the possible improvement measures to apply. Take advantage of the fact that you have a specialist at your disposal and, together, you see how to improve the house and enjoy all the possible benefits.

The final step: The technician will carry out the calculations that define the energy rating of the property to finalize the issuance of the energy efficiency certificate together with the data endorsed by the specialist technician and the registration with the competent body once obtained. The latter is essential for its validity. The Registry is created in order to facilitate compliance with this procedure and is attached to the Secretary of State for Energy, of the Ministry of Energy, Tourism and Digital Agenda, having a public and informative nature. The energy certificate to rent and sell properties has been mandatory since June 2013 and, in accordance with the regulations, it is necessary to register the energy certificate with the competent body of each Autonomous Community. Registration fees are specific to each community and management includes the payment of these fees.

How much does the energy certificate for a home cost?

The price of an energy certificate varies greatly depending on the technicians available in the area where the property for which it is contracted is located, the type of property, size... An average price is estimated to be between 75 and 150 euros.

Who should apply for the energy certificate?

This document is valid for 10 years and the owner will be responsible for its renewal or updating in accordance with what is established by the competent body of the autonomous community. If the energy rating is G, the maximum validity of the certificate is five years.

It is also possible to renew the energy certificate that is still valid if, after a renovation, a better energy rating can be obtained.

Get your energy certificate now with homes-abroad.com

Request it from us and in less than 48 business hours a technician will call you to make an appointment to visit your property. Within 3 days after the visit, you will receive the certificate. Safe, easy and fast.

Send us an email to info@homes-abroad.com with your contact information and the exact address of your property and put energy certificate in the subject.

Should you choose to sell your property with us, we pay the full cost of the energy certificate, when the sale is completed.