IF YOU HAVE A PROPERTY FOR SALE OR RENT IN SPAIN YOU WILL SOON NEED AN ENERGY PERFORMANCE CERTIFICATE.

The Ministry of Industry is finalising a set of regulations that will make it obligatory for all homes that are sold or rented in Spain to have an "energy efficiency certificate". This is a document that describes how efficient your home's energy consumption is and will cost around 250 euros for the average home. The measure is a European initiative, and is expected to come into force on the 1st of June, 2013.

 

The European directive aims to increase energy efficiency in buildings and homes in order to protect the environment, and makes it compulsory for all new and existing homes which come onto the market, whether for sale or for rent, to have this certificate.

 

The promotion of energy efficiency in buildings and homes has formed part of European priorities since 2002, when Directive 2002/91/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council was approved. This directive was implemented in Spain in 2007 through Royal Decree 4 7/2007, although at that time it was only applicable to developers. The surprise is that it now has to be complied with by private individuals, and it is likely to stir up strong feelings, judging by what has

happened in other European countries where it has already been implemented.

 

The 2002 Directive and the 2010 amendment of the Directive made it obligatory to promote energy efficiency in existing buildings and homes. Consequently, all homes that come onto the market in any country in the European Union, whether for sale or for rent, have to have this energy efficiency

certificate, which is valid for a maximum of 10 years.

 

What does this mean?

 

Once the new regulations have come into force in Spain all homeowners who want to sell or lease their property must make this "energy certificate" available to the prospective buyer and/or tenant.

 

The owner of the home, building, or business premises will be responsible for obtaining and paying for the certificate, which they will need in order to sell or lease their home. In addition to the certificate, each home will also receive a series of recommendations to improve the energy performance of the home and enable it to go up at least one level in the energy efficiency scale.

 

The drawback to these new regulations is the additional expense for homeowners, with certificates starting from 250 euros plus vat.

 

For more information about Energy Performance Certificates or if you wish to book one, e.mail us on: epc@spanishbest.com.