Energieausweis
Energy Performance Certificate. The mandatory certificate grading a building's energy performance (classes A+ to H). Every sale listing must show it, and energy class increasingly drives price, financing and renovation duties.
Two types: consumption-based (Verbrauchsausweis, cheap, reflects occupant behaviour) and demand-based (Bedarfsausweis, engineering-calculated: the meaningful one for old buildings). Valid 10 years.
Class F–H stock trades at visible discounts and faces the EU renovation trajectory; class A/B commands premiums and cheaper green-financing tranches. Post-purchase, GEG obliges limited works in older buildings (top-floor insulation, replacing 30-year-old standard boilers): budget them.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need an energy certificate to buy or sell in Germany?
The seller must present a valid certificate at the latest during the viewing, and hand it over at the sale. It is valid for ten years.
What does an energy certificate cost?
A consumption-based certificate is typically under €100 and can be produced online. A demand-based certificate requires a survey of the building and usually costs a few hundred euros.
Which energy certificate is mandatory for an older house?
For residential buildings with up to four units where the building application predates 1 November 1977 and which have not been upgraded to the 1977 insulation standard, the demand-based certificate is compulsory. Otherwise either type may be used.
What do the energy classes A+ to H mean for property value?
They rank energy demand or consumption per square metre per year, with A+ the most efficient and H the worst. Classes F to H trade at visible discounts and carry higher renovation pressure, while A and B command premiums and easier access to green financing terms.