The importance of energy certificates when renting out your Spanish holiday lets.

The Legal Requirement for EPCs in rented property

Since 2013 it is legally required to have an EPC to rent property in Spain for more than 4 months a year. There is no minimum level required before your rent as opposed to its European counterparts where since 2008 this requirement extended to rate at least an E and soon to be a D.

Jose Maria Oliva, as a lawyer at Tejada Solicitors Law Firm, recommends that before signing the rental contract for your property, whether it is a long-term or vacation rental, you should have an energy efficiency certificate. This will help you avoid penalties and, most importantly, provide the tenant with necessary information prior to signing the contract. It will allow potential clients to know the energy rating of the property and the savings in electricity consumption, which is an important factor to consider. It will help you establish a higher rental price, and moreover, your property will contribute to less pollution. Potential clients will be more interested in renting this type of property due to the many benefits it offers.

Improving energy performance in rented property.

Making your home more energy-efficient will reduce your costs over time and make it cosier and warmer to live in during the chilly winter months and cooler during the hot summer months. You can help the environment, cut down on your carbon emissions and increase the value of your property.

Tenants are more likely to rent a property with lower energy bills, especially on short term rentals where the use of air conditioning is popular and where occupancy of the accommodation is, most of the time, the maximum number of people. Taking the steps to make it energy efficient can help the tenant to lower the costs of the energy bills as well as lowering the carbon dioxide emissions to the atmosphere.

Tips for improving energy efficiency.

Here are a few tips to get you going:

Cavity walls should be insulated by filling the gap with insulating material.

Add lining to loft walls and solid walls.

Change your windows to double glazed and add thick curtains or blinds.

Maintain your heat furnaces such as boilers and chimneys in a clean and good state.

Maintain air conditioning systems so they work more efficiently and use less energy.

Automate usage of thermostat, air conditioning and lighting.

Check for drafts under doors and add draft excluders.

Add solar PV panels and solar water panels.

How to implement Energy-Efficient measures.

The best way to implement Energy efficient measures is to create an action plan, conducting an energy survey, setting saving goals and targets and choosing the appropriate actions. 

The action plan should outline the priority order with dates and resources required, including key roles with who will be carrying out such measures. 

Actions should be arranged into short, medium and long-term initiatives, as well as cost free, low cost and actions that require capital to be carried out.

It is good to start with no cost and low-cost actions so you can have an immediate impact. 

It is very important to realise that Energy Efficient measures are a team effort at every level. 

At Tejada Solicitors Law Firm, we have observed that clients who wish to purchase a property in Spain demand homes that have good energy efficiency. This factor contributes to greater profitability and faster sales.

Conclusion

Energy Performance Certificates (EPCs) provide details on buildings, properties and business on energy efficiency on a sliding scale ranging from A (extremely efficient) to G. (least efficient). An EPC enables prospective purchasers, tenants, or building occupants to think about a building’s energy efficiency before committing to a contract. With today´s increasing costs of energy bills and climate change awareness, more and more people are finding it extremely important to choose an energy efficient property whether to use as a business, buy a property or rent short or long term.

Idealista News says by 2030, Europe will restrict the sale of properties that do not adhere to the Energy Efficiency Directive. EPC certificates can outline areas of improvement that can benefit all parties involved.