Do You Need an Energy Certificate (Energieausweis) in Germany?
If you're an expat buying, selling, or renting a property in Germany, you've probably come across the word "Energieausweis" and wondered what it actually means for you. In short: it's a legally required document that rates a building's energy efficiency, similar to an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) in the UK.
What is an Energieausweis?
An Energieausweis is a certificate, required under the German Building Energy Act (Gebäudeenergiegesetz, or GEG), that shows how much energy a residential building uses or needs. It gives the property an energy efficiency rating, comparable to the labels you see on household appliances, and it's valid for 10 years.
Do you actually need one?
You need a valid Energieausweis if you are:
- Selling a house or apartment in Germany
- Renting out a property, including individual apartments in a larger building
- Advertising a property for sale or rent, in print or online
- Completing a new building
If you're simply living in your own home and have no plans to sell or rent it out, you don't need one right now. But the moment you list the property, the requirement kicks in, and it's needed before the listing even goes live: key figures from the certificate (energy class, energy consumption or demand) legally have to be included in the ad itself.
Two types of Energieausweis
There are two versions: the Verbrauchsausweis, based on the building's actual energy consumption over the last three years, and the Bedarfsausweis, based on a technical assessment of the building's construction and heating system. Which one you need depends mainly on the building's age and number of units, not on whether you're the buyer, seller, or landlord.
What happens if you don't have one?
Selling or renting without a valid Energieausweis is an administrative offense under German law and can result in a fine. It can also slow down or complicate a sale, since buyers, agents, and sometimes banks will ask for it before finalizing a deal.
Get your Energieausweis online, in English
At Energieausweis-Zentrale, you can get your legally valid Energieausweis without needing to navigate German-only paperwork or wait for an in-person appointment. Fill out our simple online form in English, and your certificate is personally reviewed by a licensed architect, registered with the DIBt, and emailed to you as a PDF. The Verbrauchsausweis starts at just €49.90.