Buying or renting a home in Spain is already a challenge — with rising demand, limited supply, and soaring prices in both markets. But from 2030, property owners will face an additional hurdle when selling or renting their homes: meeting new minimum energy efficiency standards.
What’s Changing?
Under new EU energy efficiency regulations, from 1st January 2030, any property being sold or rented in Spain must have an Energy Efficiency Certificate (EPC) with a minimum rating of “E”. By 2033, the standard will become even stricter, increasing to a minimum of “D”.
This is part of the European Directive on Energy Efficiency, which aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from buildings — a sector responsible for over one-third of total emissions across the EU.
Fines for Non-Compliance
For landlords and property owners, failure to meet these requirements could have serious financial consequences. Non-compliance could lead to fines of up to €60,000, depending on the severity and the region’s regulations.
From 2030 onwards, owners will need to ensure their property meets these minimum energy standards before placing it on the sales or rental market. Otherwise, they risk being unable to rent or sell their home until improvements are made.
What Will This Mean for Property Owners?
The economic impact for many homeowners could be significant. It’s estimated that around 85% of Spain’s housing stock will need some level of energy renovation to meet these new standards. Necessary improvements could include:
- Installing better-insulated windows and doors
- Upgrading heating and cooling systems
- Using renewable energy sources like solar panels
- Improving thermal insulation and energy-efficient lighting
While these upgrades may involve upfront costs, in the long run, they are likely to increase a property’s market value and reduce energy bills — benefiting both owners and future tenants or buyers.
The Current EPC System — And What’s Changing
Until now, it’s been enough for a property to simply hold a valid Energy Efficiency Certificate (CEE in Spanish), which rates a home’s energy consumption and CO₂ emissions from A (most efficient) to G (least efficient).
Under the new rules, however, it won’t just be about having a certificate — the certificate will need to guarantee that the home achieves at least an E rating by 2030, rising to D by 2033.
Obtaining or upgrading an EPC involves an inspection by a qualified technician who evaluates key aspects such as:
- Energy consumption
- Heating and cooling systems
- Thermal insulation
- CO₂ emissions
Spain’s Ageing Housing Stock – A Challenge Ahead
One of the biggest obstacles to compliance is the age of Spain’s residential buildings. According to Spain’s National Federation of Real Estate Associations (FAI), the average age of homes in Spain is 43.5 years, with many lacking adequate insulation or energy efficiency features.
Breakdown of Spain’s housing stock by age:
- 41.4% of homes are between 30 and 49 years old
- 29.6% are between 50 and 69 years old
- 29.9% are over 70 years old
This means a large proportion of Spanish properties are likely to require substantial renovations to meet future energy efficiency standards.
Financial Support Available for Energy Renovations
Given the potential cost of these improvements, both the Spanish Government and the European Union are expected to offer grants and financial assistance to help property owners upgrade their homes.
Funding programmes like the EU’s Next Generation funds are already available to support energy efficiency upgrades in residential properties. These grants could help cover a portion of renovation costs, encouraging property owners to invest in improvements without bearing the full financial burden themselves.
