Energy Certificate in Spain: When the Certificado Is Mandatory

If you sell or rent out a property in Spain, you need an energy certificate - in Spanish, the Certificado de Eficiencia Energética. This applies on Mallorca and the other Balearic Islands too. In practice many owners ignore the obligation, but Spanish law has required the document for almost every transaction since 2013. Anyone who advertises or signs a contract without a valid certificate risks substantial fines.

At a glance

The energy certificate has been mandatory in Spain since 2013 for selling and renting out property. It rates energy consumption on a scale from A to G, costs between 150 and 400 EUR depending on the property, and is issued by certified technicians. In the Balearic Islands it must also be entered in a regional register. Violations can be fined with up to 6,000 EUR.

When the energy certificate is mandatory

The legal basis is Real Decreto 235/2013. It requires a valid energy certificate:

when selling residential buildings and commercial property
for long-term rentals (contracts under the Ley de Arrendamientos Urbanos)
for holiday rentals (letting a property as a licensed tourist apartment or finca)
for major renovations affecting more than 25 percent of the building envelope

The document must be handed to the buyer or tenant before the contract is signed. Since 2013, property listings must also state the energy rating - including on portals like Idealista or Fotocasa.

Exemptions exist for buildings under 50 m² of usable floor space, listed heritage buildings, buildings with a planned service life of less than two years, and unheated or uncooled agricultural buildings.

Do not forget holiday rentals

Even if you only rent out for a few weeks a year, a licensed tourist apartment needs a valid energy certificate. Without it, the authorities can refuse or revoke the ETV licence. Read more in the guide on renting out to tourists.

What the certificate contains

The energy certificate assesses how much primary energy a building consumes in operation and how much CO2 it emits. The result is expressed as a class from A to G:

A and B: very energy efficient, modern new-build standard
C and D: average efficiency, older renovations
E, F and G: poor efficiency, typical of older buildings without insulation

Most older buildings on Mallorca land in classes E, F, or G - which can affect the price when selling. The certificate also contains concrete recommendations for improvement: insulation, new windows, heating system, or solar thermal.

The certificate is valid for ten years. After that it has to be renewed.

Who may issue the energy certificate

Only so-called técnicos competentes may issue the certificate. That includes architects, civil engineers, technical architects (aparejadores), and building services engineers. The technician visits the property, records the building - floor area, year of construction, envelope, heating, cooling - and calculates the energy consumption with certified software (usually CE3X or CERMA).

In the Balearic Islands, the finished certificate must then be entered in the regional register kept by the Dirección General d'Energia i Canvi Climàtic. Only with this registration is the document officially valid. Most technicians handle this step automatically as part of the job.

What the energy certificate costs

Prices are not capped by law and vary with the size and location of the property:

Posten	Kosten	Dauer
Apartment up to 80 m²	150-220 EUR	one-off
Apartment 80-150 m²	200-300 EUR	one-off
House or finca from 150 m²	280-450 EUR	one-off
Registration fee Balearics	approx. 20-30 EUR	one-off
Renewal after 10 years	same cost	on expiry

Get quotes from at least two or three technicians. Some estate agents recommend their own service providers, but you are free to choose. You can find certified issuers in the Balearics on portals like Certicalia.com or through local architecture firms.

Warning: Not every offer is legitimate

Online services offering an energy certificate without a site visit are not legally compliant. The certificate must be based on an actual survey of the building. Such documents are not accepted by authorities or notaries.

Fines for violations

The Spanish Ley 8/2013 and the regional implementing rules set out the following penalties:

Minor violations (300-600 EUR): for example, a listing that does not state the energy rating
Serious violations (601-1,000 EUR): no certificate handed over at contract signing
Very serious violations (1,001-6,000 EUR): a false or forged certificate, repeat offences

In practice, the consumer protection authorities (OMIC) and, in the Balearics, the Dirección General de Consum actively check listings. Buyers and tenants also have the right to demand the certificate afterwards and file a complaint if it was not provided.

When buying property, the notary usually checks that a valid certificate exists. If it is missing, many notaries refuse to notarize the deed - or the buyer negotiates a price reduction as compensation. You can read more about the purchase process in the guide on buying property on Mallorca.

Conclusion

The energy certificate in Spain is not a formality you can ignore. Anyone who sells a property on Mallorca or rents it out long-term or to tourists needs a valid, registered certificate. The cost is manageable - between 150 and 450 EUR depending on the property. Get quotes from two or three certified technicians, make sure registration in the Balearics is included, and keep the document for ten years. If you want to set up your rental contract correctly, there is more in the guide on rental contracts in Spain.