Penalties of up to PLN 5,000. Inspections have started in Polish homes and apartments
An energy certificate is an obligation for home and apartment owners. Lack of a document threatens a fine of up to 5,000 zloty. Controls are already underway.
The energy certificate has become an indispensable document for every property owner. Until now, it mainly concerned buildings built after 2009, but currently the obligation to draw up a document also includes older houses and apartments. Without it, sales, rent or even completed renovation may be impossible, and the lack of a certificate may result in a high financial penalty.
Energy certificate
The energy certificate determines the building’s demand for energy – not only electric, but also needed for heating, ventilation or cooling. In theory, it is to be a tool that allows the owner to estimate the costs of maintaining the property, but in practice it is perceived as an additional bureaucratic duty.
The law is unambiguous – each building commissioned after 2009 must have a certificate. The document is also required for the sale or rental of older properties. Only those owners who use their homes only for their own needs are released from this obligation – until they decide on the transaction.
The cost of making a certificate depends on the size and type of real estate and location. It ranges from 500 to 800 PLN, and in the case of large houses in cities it can exceed 1000 PLN. The document is issued only by a specialist with appropriate permissions, which further raises the price, because the number of experts is limited.
Watch out for changes
The certificate is not issued once and for all. Any important modernization of the building that changes its energy characteristics, e.g. replacing the furnace, wall insulation or installation of a new ventilation system, requires a new document. This means additional costs even for those owners who invest in improving energy efficiency.
The lack of a current certificate in situations where the law requires its possession, threatens with severe consequences. The fine can reach up to PLN 5,000, so the owners should make sure they have the required document before they decide to sell or rent their property.
