What is the certificate of habitability and the energy rating?

What are these documents and what are they for?

The habitability certificate is a study that certifies the property as suitable for habitability, taking into account the current regulations and its state of construction. Therefore, if in this study the issue is denied and the result is unfavourable, we should make the pertinent improvements to the estate so that it can be apt for living in it. Example: a commercial property is not considered to be a residential unit and therefore cannot be lived in.

The energy rating is a report that measures the efficiency of a property’s energy consume, using a scale between the letter “A” (being the most efficient) and the letter “G” (being the least efficient). This report takes into account such factors as heating, cooling system, ventilation, lighting…

Both documents are attached to the whole study carried out (on the basis of the results received) and a list of recommendations for improvement (if it is possible).

Who is in charge of providing these documents and how much does it cost to issue them?

Normally these types of reports are issued by an architect or technical architect, due to their veracity and the exhaustive study that they carry out to issue them. The issuing of this documentation depends on the region, but here in Catalonia, the emission of the habitability certificate it costs between €50 and €100, while the energy rating (which varies depending on the size of the property) costs between €75 and €150. These documents need to be updated after a certain period of time as they are not valid indefinitely. The habitability certificate (CH) is valid for 15 years from the date of the issuance while the energy rating (CE) is valid for 10 years.

Many architectural services, offer packs of combined issuance (CH + CE) at a cheaper price, so it is a very interesting option as it is a documentation that we need to have up to date if we want to sell or rent our property.