Energy Certificate for Renting in 2026: Mandatory

# Energy Certificate for Renting in 2026: Mandatory

The Energy Efficiency Certificate is a legally mandatory document for renting any home in Spain since 2013, and in 2026 its requirement remains fully valid. Without it, you cannot advertise or formalize a rental contract, and penalties for non-compliance can exceed €6,000. In this article, we explain exactly what it is, who pays for it, how much it costs, what rating you need, and how it affects your tax obligations as a landlord.

What is the energy certificate and why is it mandatory for renting

The Energy Efficiency Certificate is a technical report that evaluates the energy consumption of a home and assigns it a rating on a scale from A (most efficient) to G (least efficient). This rating reflects the estimated consumption of non-renewable primary energy expressed in kWh/m² per year.

Its mandatory requirement for renting homes in Spain derives from the Royal Decree 235/2013, of April 5 (BOE number 89, of April 13, 2013), which transposed the European Directive 2010/31/UE on energy efficiency in buildings. Since that date, any owner who wants to rent out their property must have this certificate before publishing the ad, not just before signing the contract.

In 2026, the regulation has not relaxed this obligation. On the contrary, the European regulatory pressure —within the framework of the Revised Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (EPBD)— points to progressively stricter minimum rating requirements in the coming years. Currently, there is no minimum letter threshold for renting in Spain (i.e., you can rent a home with a G rating), but it is mandatory to have the certificate and display it.

Who must obtain the energy certificate and who pays

The obligation falls exclusively on the property owner, not the tenant. It is the landlord who must:

• Order the certificate from a qualified technician (architect, architectural technician, engineer, or engineering technician).
• Register the certificate with the competent authority of their autonomous community (each region has its own registry).
• Provide a copy to the tenant at the time of signing the contract.
• Include the energy label in any rental advertisement, whether on real estate portals, social media, or shop windows.

The cost of the certificate is entirely the responsibility of the property owner. The tenant has no financial or administrative obligations in this process.

How much does the energy certificate cost in 2026

There is no official fixed price regulated at the national level. The cost varies according to the autonomous community, the size of the property, and the technician hired. As a reference, based on market rates in 2026:

• Home up to 80 m²: between €80 and €150 (technician fees + registration fees).
• Home 80 to 150 m²: between €120 and €200.
• Home over 150 m²: between €180 and €300 or more.

These amounts must include the autonomous registration fees, which range between €10 and €30 depending on the community. Some autonomous communities, such as Catalonia or Madrid, have their own fees, which it is advisable to consult directly with the corresponding regional authority.

Example: A property owner with a 90 m² apartment in Valencia hires a technician for €140 and pays €20 in registration fees with the Valencian Government. The total cost of the certificate is €160, which can be deducted as a necessary expense for the income from real estate investment in the IRPF (AEAT, model 100).

Validity of the certificate: when it expires and when to renew it

The Energy Efficiency Certificate has a validity of 10 years from the date of issue (Royal Decree 235/2013). After this period, the owner must renew it before renting or selling the property again.

There are two situations in which it is advisable to renew it before it expires:

1. After carrying out energy improvement works: if you have installed air-source heat pumps, improved insulation, or replaced windows, a new certificate will reflect a better rating, which may justify a higher rental price and, in some cases, access to additional tax deductions.
2. If the current rating harms commercialization: tenants increasingly value energy efficiency, and a rating F or G may hinder renting or force a price reduction.

Penalties for renting without an energy certificate

Renting without an energy certificate or failing to include the label in advertisements constitutes an administrative offense typified in the Royal Decree 235/2013 and in the legislation of each autonomous community. Penalties are classified into three levels:

• Minor offense: up to €300. For example, not including the label in the advertisement.
• Serious offense: between €301 and €1,000. For example, not registering the certificate.
• Very serious offense: between €1,001 and €6,000. For example, repeatedly renting without a certificate or falsifying the rating.

The authority responsible for penalties belongs to the autonomous communities, so the exact amount and procedure vary by region. In any case, the financial risk far exceeds the cost of obtaining the certificate.

How the energy rating affects the rental price

Although the law does not impose a minimum or maximum price based on the energy rating, the rating has a real impact on the market. Studies by the Spanish real estate sector indicate that homes with ratings A or B can achieve rental incomes between 5% and 15% higher than equivalent homes with ratings E or F, especially in large cities.

Numerical example: Two identical 70 m² apartments in the same neighborhood of Madrid. The first has a C rating and is rented for €1,100 per month. The second has an F rating, and the landlord must adjust the price to €1,000 per month to find a tenant. The annual difference is €1,200 in gross income. Improving the rating through insulation works (with possible 20% deduction in IRPF according to the current legislation in 2026) can be amortized in a few years.

Energy Certificate and deductions in IRPF 2026

The energy certificate is not only a mandatory procedure: it is also the key to accessing tax deductions for energy improvement works regulated in the IRPF Law (AEAT). To apply the 20%, 40%, or 60% deductions for energy rehabilitation works, the legislation requires having a certificate before and after the works that proves the improvement achieved.

Additionally, the cost of the energy certificate is a deductible expense in IRPF for property owners who rent out their homes, as it is considered a necessary expense for obtaining income from real estate investment (Article 23 of the IRPF Law 35/2006, according to AEAT). This means you can subtract its amount from the gross rental income before calculating the net profit.

Example: If you earn €12,000 annually from rent and the certificate cost you €160, that amount reduces your taxable base. If you pay the marginal rate of 19% (first bracket of real estate income), the tax savings are €30.40. Small, but legitimate and documentable.

How to obtain the energy certificate step by step

The process to obtain the energy certificate and comply with the legal obligation before renting is as follows:

1. Find a qualified technician: you can find professionals through the official colleges of architects, architectural technicians, or engineers in your autonomous community, or through specialized platforms.
2. Provide the property documentation: floor plan of the home, construction year, type of heating and hot water, type of windows, and insulation if known.
3. Technical visit: the technician visits the property to take on-site data. The visit usually lasts between 30 minutes and 2 hours depending on the size.
4. Certificate issuance: the technician prepares the report and registers it with the competent autonomous authority. You will receive the certificate with the official energy label.
5. Include the label in your advertisements: from the moment you publish the property, the label must appear in all supports.
6. Provide a copy to the tenant: at the time of signing the rental contract.

If you want to estimate the fiscal impact of energy improvement works before deciding whether it's worth improving your home's rating, you can use an IRPF deduction calculator for energy rehabilitation to compare scenarios.

Key questions before renting your home in 2026

Before publishing your rental ad, check that you can answer affirmatively to these questions:

• Do you have the energy certificate registered in your autonomous community?
• Is the certificate less than 10 years old?
• Have you included the energy label in the ad?
• Do you have a copy ready to hand over to the tenant when signing the contract?
• Have you included the certificate cost as a deductible expense in your income tax return?

If any answer is negative, act before publishing the ad. The risk of penalties and the possible nullity of contract clauses do not compensate for the time saved.

Sources and reference legislation

• Royal Decree 235/2013, of April 5, approving the basic procedure for the certification of the energy efficiency of buildings (BOE number 89, of April 13, 2013).
• Directive 2010/31/UE of the European Parliament and of the Council, relating to the energy efficiency of buildings.
• Law 35/2006, of November 28, on the Income Tax for Individuals (AEAT).
• AEAT — Income from real estate investment: deductible expenses (aeat.es).
• Ministry of Housing and Urban Agenda — Energy certification of buildings (vivienda.gob.es).
• IDAE (Institute for Diversification and Energy Saving) — Energy certificate registry (idae.es).