Buying or selling with a mortgage? Watch out for the energy certificate

Since August 12th, a new regulation has come into effect that changes the rules of the game: from now on, a property cannot be appraised for a mortgage unless it has a valid Energy Efficiency Certificate (EEC).

This means that if you are planning to buy with financing, sell your home, or refinance your mortgage, the property must have this certificate up to date. Both the bank and the appraiser will check it—no exceptions.

👉 No energy certificate, no appraisal… and without appraisal, no mortgage.

Why is this certificate so important now?

Until now, the certificate has been mandatory for selling since 2013 (unless the buyer waived it). The new rule is that it is no longer optional for appraisals: the appraiser must have it before issuing the report the bank requires.

This could make the difference between your transaction moving forward smoothly… or getting stuck for weeks.

What is the energy certificate (and what is it for)?

The energy certificate is an official report that rates your property based on its energy consumption and efficiency. It goes from A (very efficient) to G (very inefficient).

Along with the rating, it also includes a series of improvement recommendations that can help you save energy and money in the future.

And who can issue it?

Until recently, only architects and engineers could issue this certificate. Now, the law also allows other trained and accredited technicians to do so, provided they have the required qualifications. This gives homeowners more options and usually speeds up the process.

Our advice

If you’re planning to sell your property or buy with a mortgage, the very first thing you should do is make sure the energy certificate is valid and registered.

Otherwise, the appraisal will be delayed, and with it the entire buying, selling, or financing process.

At our agency, we take care of checking this requirement for you, so you don’t run into last-minute surprises and we can close your deal as quickly as possible.

✅ In short: the energy certificate is now an essential document in any transaction involving a mortgage. Have it ready from the start and you’ll avoid unnecessary delays.