Interest in energy labels is minimal; buyers do not require them

Prague - Interest in energy performance certificates for buildings, so-called energy labels, remains negligible. Neither buyers nor sellers require them. This is evident from the experiences of large real estate agencies contacted by ČTK.
"Currently, buyers do not demand energy labels for the property in question. Some consider it unnecessary and rely on utility bills for gas and electricity from previous years, while others do not insist on them during the purchase simply because they are afraid that the fee for the label will be reflected in the final price of the property," noted the spokesperson of the real estate agency M&M reality, Monika Buřičová, adding that according to their statistics, only 20 percent of clients are currently interested in these labels.
"We sell over a thousand properties monthly, and so far we have arranged energy labels for just under two hundred clients. For houses, it currently looks like both parties agree to exchange all the necessary documents. In reality, labels are still not being addressed," said Miroslav Jonáš, the CEO of M&M reality.
A similar experience is noted in Next Reality. "There is no interest in them from the buyers' side. From the sellers, who are obliged to issue a label, the interest is less than we anticipated. Clients view it as unnecessary administrative burden," stated the spokesperson for Next Reality, Soňa Puchmertlová, noting that energy labels are only provided for family houses. "For apartments, this is replaced by utility bills," Puchmertlová pointed out.
According to Jiří Lemberka, the director of the legal department of Maxima Reality, labels hold no significance for buyers. "Buyers do not explicitly demand energy performance certificates from sellers. Which is logical, as the information about the energy class and annual energy consumption in kWh/m² stated in the energy performance certificate does not inform them about the actual energy costs necessary to operate a house or apartment," claims Lemberka, who considers this obligation more of an administrative and financial burden. "The protective and preventive function, which was apparently the intent of the law, is not fulfilled by the energy performance certificate in my opinion, given its content," Lemberka believes.
Energy labels have been mandatory since January 1 for all new buildings or during renovations and sales of apartments. Builders, building owners, or homeowner associations are responsible for obtaining them. In the case of renting parts of buildings, the new obligation will apply from 2016. Existing buildings are to gradually obtain labels from 2015 to 2019, according to timelines set by law.