Frequently Asked Questions

It is an official document that evaluates the energy efficiency of a property on a scale from A+ (very efficient) to F (less efficient), issued by qualified experts recognized by the Energy Agency (ADENE), the managing entity of the building energy certification system (SCE).
The relevant factors to determine the property’s rating include its location, year of construction, typology (house or apartment), usable floor area, as well as the composition of the construction elements (walls, roofs, floors, etc.). The equipment related to climate control, ventilation, heating, cooling, and hot water production in the property is also considered.
The energy certificate evaluates window insulation, ventilation, climate control, and hot water production and their effect on energy consumption, suggesting measures to reduce energy use and improve the property’s thermal comfort.
This document allows access to financing programs to implement improvement measures, as well as the benefit of tax incentives in IMI or IMT, or reduced rates for rehabilitation, enhancing your property.

The energy certificate is mandatory in the following situations:

• Buildings, at the time of their sale, transfer in fulfillment, lease, or assignment provided this covers the transfer of the physical space;
• New buildings;
• Existing buildings subject to major renovation, that is, buildings undergoing renovation where the estimated total cost of the work related to the components exceeds 25% of the total building value based on the average construction value published annually;
• Existing commercial and service buildings with an interior usable floor area equal to or greater than 1000 m2, or 500 m2 in the case of shopping centers, hypermarkets, supermarkets, and covered swimming pools;
• Buildings owned and occupied by a public entity and frequently visited by the public with an interior usable floor area greater than 250 m2;
• Buildings targeted by financing programs, whenever the energy certification constitutes a requirement for this effect;
• Buildings eligible for tax benefits whenever the energy certification constitutes a requirement for this effect.

The documents needed to issue the energy certificate consist of the urban property tax registration that can be obtained for free from the tax portal, the property registry certificate which can be requested on the website www.predialonline.pt, copies of the property’s plans (if available), previous energy certificate (if any), housing technical sheet (if applicable), technical sheets of equipment for hot water, climate control, and others deemed necessary.

Yes. The validity of the energy certificate is 10 years for residences and small buildings/service and commercial fractions. For large buildings/commercial and service fractions, its validity is 8 years.

No. However, during transactions, it is necessary to present a Provisional SCE Declaration issued by the Qualified Expert or a declaration from the City Hall or the Directorate-General for the Treasury and Finance.