A guide to the Energy Performance Certificate in Spain

All owners who want to sell or rent their property in Spain (which was built before 2007) must have have an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) in compliance with the royal decree 235/2013, of 5th April. This is a document that includes the energy efficiency rating of the property (from letter A, which is the best, to G, which is the worst) and the consumption of a building or part of it (home, premises, office, etc.), information on the procedure, description of the energy characteristics and recommendations for feasible improvements. This is our guide to the Energy Performance Certificate in Spain. 

Who is obliged to have an energy certificate in Spain?

The property owner or developer who wants to sell or rent their property must have an energy performance certificate in Spain (this has been the case since 1st June 2013). In addition, both the owner and the developer are responsible for providing it to the buyer or showing it to the tenant.

What is an Energy Performance Certificate for?

This document informs you of the different energy characteristics of the property. This includes the energy rating: the energy efficiency level of the house is described on a scale 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 in air conditioning. The cost of insulating a 90 m2 flat well amounts to around 11,500 euros, which could be reduced by 40% by taking advantage of subsidies.

The EPC evaluates window insulation, ventilation, air conditioning and hot water production and their effect on energy consumption. It indicates the improvement measures to reduce energy consumption and improve comfort, indicating the estimated price of each one and the estimated savings on the electricity bill.

It also allows access to tax benefits: as explained by the Spanish Tax Agency, "three new temporary deductions applicable to the total state income tax liability for amounts invested in renovation works that contribute to achieving certain improvements in the energy efficiency of dwellings (regular or rented), and in residential buildings, which are accredited through an energy efficiency certificate" have been implemented.

How to get an energy certificate in Spain

There are two ways to obtain an energy certificate in Spain. You can follow the steps below, or you can count on the help of idealista. You can click here and fill in the form with the details of your home. We will contact you to manage the next steps, you will have the energy certificate emailed to you in a short time. On the other hand, these are the steps to follow and what idealista will do for you:

• Choose a company, architect, engineer or authorised technician: research and request proposals from several qualified experts working in your area by searching for EPC companies in Spain. The price of the services charged by the surveyor should correspond to the value and quality that the surveyor brings to the work in issuing the certificate and the availability of clarification and interaction of the surveyor with the owner. Once an option has been chosen, the technician will have to collect information about the property by visiting it in person (walls, windows, air conditioning, heating, orientation and size, among others). Afterwards, he/she will make the calculations that define the energy rating of the property.
• Gather the necessary documentation: before the technician's visit, make sure you have all the documentation relating to your home (such as the floor plan or the technical specifications of the property). The consultation of all the documents allows a more accurate assessment of the reality of the property.
• Organise the visit: the expert's visit is compulsory, so it facilitates access to all areas of the home, to allow the collection of information. It is illegal to make an energy certificate by hearsay, by video call or only on the basis of photographs. And it is punishable as a very serious infringement with fines of 1,001 to 6,000 euros, according to Royal Legislative Decree 7/2015. If you contract the service with idealista, the technician who will visit the property is trusted by us. This way, we avoid situations of fraud that are occurring due to the issuing of illegal energy certificates.
• Follow the process: follow the certification process and evaluate, with the expert, the possible improvement measures to be applied. Take advantage of the fact that you have a specialist at your disposal and, together, see how to improve the house and enjoy all the possible benefits.
• The final step: the technician will make the calculations that define the energy rating of the property. And the final step is the issuing of the energy efficiency certificate, with the data endorsed by the specialist technician, and the registration with the competent body once obtained. The latter is indispensable for its validity. The Register is created in order to facilitate compliance with this procedure and is attached to the Secretary of State for Energy of the Ministry for the Ecological Transition and the Demographic Challenge, and is public and informative in nature. The energy certificate for renting and selling property has been compulsory since June 2013 and, in accordance with the regulations, it is necessary to register the energy certificate with the competent body in each Autonomous Community. The registration fees are specific to each region. The management of idealista includes the payment of these fees.

How much is an EPC in Spain?

The price of an energy certificate varies greatly depending on the technicians available in the area where the property is located, the type of property, size etc. At idealista we calculate the best price on the market.

In what situations is it compulsory to have an energy certificate?

Is it illegal not to have an EPC? The energy certificate is also a way of adding value to a property. If you are thinking of buying, selling or renting a property, it is compulsory to present this certificate. In particular, it is compulsory for regular homes, holiday homes, business premises, as well as for buildings with a total useful floor area of more than 500 m2 and intended for other uses. It is also required for buildings such as schools, hospitals, offices, etc.

How long are energy certificates valid in Spain?

The EPC in Spain is valid for 10 years and the owner will be responsible for renewing or updating it in accordance with the provisions of the competent body of the autonomous community. However, 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.