Energy declaration
Energy declaration is a document with information about how much energy is used in a house when it is occupied. In Sweden, the energy declaration is a requirement in most cases when the house is sold, but ”vacant houses” are often exempt – more about that at the bottom.
Seller's responsibility
You who sell a building must ensure that there is an energy declaration before the sale. If the sale goes through a broker, the energy declaration is usually included in the assignment. You as the seller are responsible for requesting this.
Energy declaration step by step
Certified energy expert
Not just anyone can prepare an energy declaration. Contact an independent certified energy expert well in advance of the sale.
Preparation of energy declaration
The certified energy expert prepares the energy declaration and registers it in the Swedish National Board of Housing, Building and Planning's energy declaration register. You will also receive the registered energy declaration from the energy expert. It is also possible to retrieve the declaration from the Swedish National Board of Housing, Building and Planning's website.
Advertise your energy class
The energy declaration specifies which energy class your house has. The energy class is a summary of the energy declaration. When you write your advertisement, the energy class should be stated and displayed in the sales advertisement. This gives interested parties a comprehensive view of the property.
Share the energy declaration
Present the energy declaration in its entirety to the prospective buyer before the sale. You can do this, for example, during the viewing of the house or by sending the declaration to the prospective buyer in connection with the viewing.
Hand over the energy declaration
When you have sold your house, the energy declaration must be handed over in its entirety to the new owner at the time of transfer. The new owner can then carry out any measures that can improve the house's energy class by, for example, changing the heating system or adding insulation.
Energy declaration is a requirement
If the building requires an energy declaration and such a declaration does not exist, the Swedish National Board of Housing, Building and Planning can issue a directive requiring you to submit an energy declaration. The buyer of the property can also submit a report to the Swedish National Board of Housing, Building and Planning that the energy declaration is missing. The directive may be accompanied by fines amounting to significant sums.
Exceptions for holiday homes and vacant houses
An energy declaration is not required for residential buildings that are used or intended for use:
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less than four months per year, or
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for a limited part of the year if energy use is estimated to be less than 25 percent of annual use.