The energy certificate: when you need it to sell
South Tyrol applies a system of its own, CasaClima, with rules stricter than the national ones. The certificate is one of the papers to have ready before publication.
When it is compulsory
On sale and on letting. In the province of Bolzano the energy certificate must be attached to the contract: without it the contract can be declared void and administrative penalties apply. It is not something that can be put right afterwards.
Transfers by gift and by inheritance are the exception: there the certificate is not attached to the deed, though it still has to be drawn up for the building.
Who issues it and how long it lasts
It is drawn up by a qualified professional — architect, engineer, surveyor or technical expert — who submits it to the CasaClima Agency, the provincial body that runs the system and issues the certificate. It is valid for ten years and lapses earlier if work changes how the building performs.
There are different routes depending on the building: a simplified procedure for older, high-consumption buildings, one for individual units, and full CasaClima certification for new construction and for works drawing on incentives. Costs vary accordingly and are quoted by the professional.
Why it is prepared in advance
The energy rating goes into the listing, and the buyer's bank asks for it during checks. The professional drawing up the certificate also inspects the property: if modest works could change the rating, that information is useful before publication rather than once a negotiation is under way.
What the professional needs
Before engaging anyone it is worth checking whether a certificate already exists: it is issued by the CasaClima Agency, which keeps the archive, and on buildings built or refurbished in recent years one is often there. If it exists and is still valid, it is not redone.
If one has to be drawn up, the professional asks for the plans, the details of the heating and hot water systems, the year of construction and the records of work already done — insulation, windows, roof, boiler. Having them ready shortens the process and the number of visits. In a condominium with a central system the manager's data are needed too.
In short
- It is attached to the contract of sale and of letting
- Without it the contract can be declared void; penalties apply
- Gift and inheritance: not attached, but the certificate is still drawn up
- Drawn up by a qualified professional, issued by the CasaClima Agency
- Valid ten years, unless work changes the building
- The energy rating goes into the listing
Frequently asked questions
I have a certificate from ten years ago: is it still valid?
Ten years is the maximum, so it has most likely expired or is about to. It lapses earlier in any case if the windows have since been replaced, the roof redone or the boiler changed. It is worth having a professional check it before publication.
Does a low energy rating lose the sale?
Not on its own, but it bears on the profile of the buyer and on the reasoning about price. Part of the market — particularly those buying with a mortgage and counting running costs — factors it into an offer. Stating it, and saying which works are possible, keeps the subject from surfacing during checks.
Official sources
Note
This guide is general information written by an estate agency. It does not replace advice from a notary, an accountant or the surveyor handling the property. The rules cited are those in force at the date of publication.
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