FAQs

Is the issuance of an Energy Certificate optional for electronic lease agreements? No, the issue of an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) is mandatory (for properties as provided for by law*. If you have an obligation to issue an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) for the property you are renting, this must be registered in the relevant fields of the electronic lease (if submitted after 09/11/2015) as required by Article 58 para.3 Law 4342/2015. *No EPC is required for buildings which have an intended use such as: industry, crafts, rural use (excluding residential), workshops, warehouses, car parks, liquid fuel stations. All other properties are subject to an EPC requirement.  NB 1: With regards to renewals of lease agreements for property less than 50 square meters, and for which the lease agreement was registered with the appropriate Tax Office prior to January 1 2016, there is no obligation for the issuance of an EPC.  NB 2: With regards to renewals of lease agreements for property less than 50 square meters, and for which the lease agreement was entered into prior to January 1 2016, there is no obligation for the issuance of an EPC.  The above exemption on the issuance of an EPC for property less than 50 square meters expired on 1/1/2016.     If existing lease agreements are renewed is the issue of an EPC mandatory? The issue of an EPC is mandatory ONLY for new lease agreements and not for renewals of existing contracts (if the date of the initial contract's approval by the relevant Tax Office took place prior to 9/1/2012, for real estate above 50 square meters in size and for which neither the tenant nor square meters of the property has been changed, e.g. after legalizing semi-outdoor spaces of the property which have been made into areas of the dwelling). According to the circular numbered 382/12.1.2012 Renewal or extension of a lease contract is considered to be in the case where the same property is leased to the same tenant regardless of the amount of the rent. If, however, the tenant or square meters of the rental property are changed, this is deemed a new contract and a certificate is therefore required. According to Circular 172335/16.02.2016 for real estate below 50 square meters in size an energy  performance certificate (EPC) is not mandatory if: the date on which the lease agreement, as registered in the ‘Contract date’ field of the Registry of Information on Real Estate Leases, was entered into, is earlier than 1 January 2016 or the date on which the  details are submitted to the Registry of Information on Real Estate Leases, is earlier than 1 January 2016, in the event that no private lease agreement had been drawn up.     For rental properties which have obtained an energy certificate, is it required to re-issue a certificate on every new lease entered into? No, there is no requirement to issue a new EPC. The certificate shall be valid for 10 years from its issue and shall not be required to re-issue for contracts entered into over the 10-year period (unless the property is completely renovated).   When is the issue of an EPC mandatory? The issue of an EPC is mandatory in the following cases: for the leasing of the whole or part of a building (Apartment, Store) regardless of the size of the property;  for every sale and purchase of the whole or part of a building (Apartment, Store) regardless of the size of the property;  upon completion of the construction of each newbuild or wholly renovated building; and for residential buildings to enter the Residential Property Savings program. N.B.  The exception for real estate below 50 sq. meters expired on 1/1/2016.   Are holiday homes exempted from the mandatory issue of EPCs? According to the Circular 2279/22.12.2010 (22/12/2010), holiday homes are not exempt from the obligation to issue an EPC.   Which buildings are exempted from the obligation to issue an EPC? The issue of an EPC shall not be required for buildings with a use such as: agricultural industry property (excluding residential) car parks, storage facilities, petrol stations.   Should the certificate be issued prior to the signing of the lease agreement with the tenant? Yes the certificate should be issued before any agreement is entered into, due to the fact that the EPC protocol number must be written on every private or notarial lease agreement. In accordance with paragraph 3 of Article 14 of the Energy Performance of Buildings Regulation (Greek Government Gazette number 407 B, 2010), ‘In any lease of property, the ECP protocol number shall be indicated in the private or notarial lease agreement. The tax authority shall not take a lease agreement into consideration if it is not presented with the applicable EPC.’   Are there any consequences if my property is of low-energy performance? For real property (licensed before October 2010) there is no impact other than the fact that it reflects its true energy classification.   How are the square meters of the property calculated? The total area of a building is the sum of the square meters of the building as measured in the building permit (according to the plot ration), as well as the square meters of the building that has been legalized or settled under the applicable provisions (e.g. legalizing semi-outdoor spaces). In the case of inter vivos parental conveyance is the issue of an EPC mandatory? According to the ‘Circular for Notaries (26/1/2011)’ ‘Purchases required to issue EPCs do not include distributions, exchanges, etc.’ thus it is not required.   Can I only inspect my apartment or should the entire block be inspected? An energy survey can take place for a single apartment.   For mixed-use buildings (e.g. apartment block with stores) can an energy performance certificate be issued? According to the Circular 1603/4.10.2010 (4/10/2010) ‘In the case of mixed-use buildings, the ECP shall be issued separately for each basic category of use of each part of the building as defined in the Building Regulations (residence, temporary dwelling, business, training, etc.).’   What is the validity period of the ECP? The ECP is valid for ten years, except when a complete renovation of the building before the end of the decade takes place, in which case its validity ends at the end of the renovation work and a new one must be issued.   I bought a property that lists the previous owner as the current owner. In order to lease it, does a new EPC have to be issued in my name? No, a new ECP is not required as the certificate concerns the property and not the persons. According to the ‘Circular for notaries (26/1/2011)’ The ECP is valid for 10 years from its issue and there is no obligation to reissue it for purchase contracts which shall be concluded during the 10-year period (unless it is renovated completely). In the event of continuous sales within its term of validity, the relevant notarial documents shall note the protocol number and security code of the ECP already attached to the first sale contract.   What is the cost of issuing an ECP? The cost for an energy inspection is up to the inspector of choice (and under negotiation). According to the circular with Protocol number 2297 (4/9/2012) the minimum fees for energy inspection services provided are abolished. These fees are now freely determined by the written agreement of the parties in accordance with Article 7 paragraph 1 of Law 3919/2011. Article 10 of the Presidential Decree 100/2010 establishes the minimum fees for conducting an energy survey and issuing an ECP.  Apartments: €2/sq.m (minimum of € 150)  Entire buildings (e.g. apartment block): 1 €/sq.m (minimum 200 €)  Detached house: €1.5/sq.m (minimum 200 €)  Store (maximum 1000 sq m): 2.5 €/sq.m (minimum of € 300)  As of Tuesday 10 April 2018, an energy inspection requires payment of a 5-euro fee for real estate up to 250 sq m, € 10 for real estate from 250 sq m. up to 1000 square meters and 30 euros for real estate over 1,000 sq m. These fees are borne by the debtor (owner) and beneficiary of the ECP and must be issued under his TIN. What are the necessary supporting documents for the issue of the ECP? For buildings built before 1983 (constructed before 14/3/1983) the following documents are required, Copies of Architectural Plans (Building plan), a copy of the submitted details of the property with the Cadastre Office (if a submission has been made). It should be noted that for an Energy inspection to take place it is not required for the owner to have submitted the property details with the Cadastre.  For buildings built after 1983 (constructed after 14/3/1983) the following documents are required, Copies of Architectural Plans (Building plan), a copy of the submitted details of the property with the Cadastre Office (if a submission has been made), Copy of the Building Permit. It should be noted that for an Energy inspection to take place it is not required for the owner to have submitted the property details with the Cadastre.  I want to issue an ECP for an old property (construction before 14/3/1983) but I do not have the supporting documents, what can I do? If you are in possession of the property License Number you may ask the City Planning Office for a copy of the floor plan of the floor on which the property is located and a copy of the Plot Plan (ask other Owners of the building if you do not know the license number). (If Architectural Plans cannot be found, we shall undertake the step-by-step rendering of your property free of charge.) If the property is registered with the Cadastre, the KAEK (National Cadastre Code) or the Protocol Number is required and the Registration and Ownership Code. (see next question)   In the case of apartment blocks or other buildings with multiple properties, which National Cadastre Code (KAEK) will be declared for the issue of the EPC? In the case of apartment blocks or other buildings with multiple properties, any cadastre number from any property of the building may be used when an energy inspection for the issue of an EPC of the entire building takes place. The cadastre number shall be declared only for the purpose of verifying the location of the property, which shall be determined by the first digits of the number relating to the horizontal property of the building.   Is it mandatory to implement the recommendations for improving the energy performance of the property recorded in the energy performance certificate? No, it is not obligatory to implement such recommendations (unless they concern the Residential Property Savings program).   Under whose name is the EPC issued should the owners be more than one? In order to issue an EPC an electronic submission of an application shall be made containing the details of all owners of the property. However, in the paper version of the EPC the name of only one owner is displayed; thus, in the event of an EPC being issued electronically for a property consisting of apartment blocks, all owners' data is provided yet only the details of one owner are stated in the paper form of the certificate and this is usually the name of the owner with the highest ownership percentage or the superintendent. It should be made aware, however, that the Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) comprises the energy identity of the property and accompanies that, therefore the name of the owner is irrelevant. Even if a change of ownership of the property takes place (e.g. sale and purchase) no reissue of an EPC is required.