Real estate will have to be marked with energy labels

Prague - Owners of properties that are preparing for sale or rental will be required from next year to obtain a special label regarding the energy performance of buildings. This is stipulated in the amendment to the Energy Management Act, which was approved by the government today. The government's spokesperson Jan Osúch informed ČTK about this. The measure is related to the European directive on the energy performance of buildings.
Labels are intended to serve as an information tool for buyers or tenants, who will find out the operating costs of energy from it. The new rule should also lead to lower energy consumption and reduced expenses for households and other entities for energy.
Similar labels currently inform about the energy efficiency of electrical appliances. New buildings have been labeled in this way since 2009. Qualified auditors will install the labels on the properties, and their cost should generally range in the order of a few thousand crowns, although it will vary depending on the size of the property.
"The funds spent on preparing the certificate will differ depending on the current condition of the building. For older buildings, higher costs can be expected," said legal specialist Lenka Němcová.
Experts expect that labeling may cause problems, for example, for owners who do not have all the construction documentation for their properties. They also point out that property owners will likely reflect the costs of energy labeling in rents or sale prices.
According to Němcová, the amendment to the Energy Management Act will affect the real estate market. "In practice, this may mean additional financial costs when renting or selling a building or apartment," she noted.
The new rule is related to the EU directive on the energy performance of buildings, which was approved in 2010. According to it, by December 31, 2018, EU member states should ensure that all new buildings used and owned by public authorities have nearly zero energy consumption. From the end of 2020, all new buildings will have to comply with this standard.