If you are thinking of selling your house, you will know that you must have all the permits in order to carry out the transaction. You may be missing the obligation to be in possession of the energy certificate in order to carry out the procedure. Find out what it is, what it is for and how you can obtain the energy certificate for your home.
What is the energy certificate?
This document is mandatory for the sale or rental of all properties since June 2013, except those with a usable surface area of less than 50 m2, homes purchased for major renovations or demolition, or with an energy consumption of less than 25% of that expected for an entire year.
What is the purpose of the energy certificate?
This certification allows the buyer to know the energy efficiency of the property and thus have the option of improving it to reduce their bill. In fact, the document contains a series of proposals to improve this efficiency prepared by official technicians. These measures are designed so that if, as a new owner, you want to improve the energy efficiency of the property, you can do so without having to request a new energy certificate.
Measures can be as simple as changing the enclosures to better insulate the house from the elements or installing awnings on the façade to protect the house from the most intense sun.
When assessing the property, the specialist, contrary to what might seem, does not take into account elements such as lighting or the type of electrical appliances. The certifier will make his report taking into account aspects such as the facade of the house, its orientation, its dimensions and the layout of the rooms and the window frames. He will also take into account the state of the air conditioning, hot water or heating installations.
After a thorough analysis of this information, the technician will obtain the energy rating of the property using a computer program. The rating will appear on the energy label, together with the energy demand and the kilograms of CO2 emitted.
What happens if my property does not have a certificate?
Although it may seem so, the energy certificate is not a trivial matter. If the energy certificate is not available at the time of signing the deeds, the notary may refuse to proceed with the transaction. Furthermore, according to the legislation, you could face significant sanctions. The fines provided for range from 600 to 1000 euros.
How do I get the energy certificate?
To do this, you just have to contact one of the specialized companies to evaluate your home and issue the report with the corresponding rating, according to the guidelines set by the Ministry of Industry. In addition, the specialist will include a proposal for improvements. It will be up to you whether you implement them or not.
You must register the certificate with the competent body in the autonomous community where the property is located. After paying the fees - in some regions it is a free procedure - the Energy Efficiency label is generated.
This certificate is valid for 10 years and must be renewed after this period.