Benefits associated with Energy Certification

Even if you don't intend to sell or rent your property, you can consider asking for your Energy Performance Certificate. Find out why!

An Energy Performance Certificate evaluates a building’s energy efficiency. It is a mandatory document for selling or renting a house. Thanks to the Energy Certificate, you can learn in-depth about your property and its characteristics and potential improvements you can make to boost your energy rating, save energy and make your house more comfortable.

In this way, even if you are not planning to sell or rent your property, it can be advantageous to consider requesting your energy performance certificate.

After receiving the energy performance certificate, done by a qualified expert accredited by the Agency for Energy (ADENE), you can analyze your energy consumption and understand which measures you can or need to adopt to cut your energy costs and make your home more efficient.

Making upgrades and investing according to recommendations from the qualified expert and the energy performance certificate improves your energy rating (assigned on a scale of A+ to F) and increases your property’s value on the real estate market. After making the improvements, you may even enjoy some tax benefits.

What tax benefits can you be entitled to?

These tax benefits will depend on regulations and laws on the date your property’s Energy Certificate is issued.

Under article 44-B of the Tax Benefits Statute, municipalities may, by decision of the Municipal Assembly, offer a reduction of up to 25% off the Municipal Property Tax (IMI) for energy-efficient urban buildings.

“Energy efficiency” exists when:

1. The property has received an energy rating of A or higher;
2. The assigned Energy Rating is two classes higher than the previous one due to construction work, upgrades or improvements.

In these cases, the IMI discount will apply for five years. To determine if you are eligible for this tax discount, go to the local municipality where your property is located.

The Municipality of Lisbon gives a partial IMI exemption of 10% for properties with a rating of A or higher.

Even if you are not eligible for this IMI discount, by implementing the suggestions in your property’s Energy Certificate, you will see significant savings in your energy bill.

In addition to tax benefits, you will also feel more confident knowing that your property, or the property that you are going to invest in, complies with the latest environmental protection standards and energy efficiency standards.

Tax benefits are not all!

The benefits of your property’s energy certification go beyond mere tax advantages. Understanding your property in detail will allow you to know which steps will make your space more comfortable and sustainable.

The following list summarizes the main advantages of obtaining the energy performance certificate of your building:

• Understanding the improvements that your space needs, implementing them and consequently making your space more comfortable and environmentally friendly;
• Lowering your monthly energy costs;
• Increasing your property’s value, making it more competitive in the real estate market;
• Tax benefits or lower taxes with your energy rating or property upgrades;
• Avoiding energy waste and lowering your carbon footprint.

Have you still not requested an Energy Certificate for your property? Don’t wait any longer and contact Neves & Ferrão today.

If you need an energy performance certificate,
Neves Ferrão is the answer!