Energy Certificate in the Canary Islands: Is it mandatory? Prices and Fines.
If you are thinking of selling or renting your property in Gran Canaria, you probably have a mountain of paperwork on your mind. Among the Simple Note, the IBI, and the deeds, the Energy Efficiency Certificate (EEC) is usually that document that many owners leave until the end.
Serious mistake.
At Elite Real Estate, as an agency with our own technical department, we see every week how signings at the notary are delayed for not having this document in order. Here we explain to you without technical jargon what it is, why the regulation in the Canary Islands is strict, and how much it can cost you not to have it.
The short answer: Yes, it is mandatory (and sooner than you think)
Many owners believe that the Energy Certificate is only needed on the day of signing at the notary. False.
According to Royal Decree 390/2021, the energy label is mandatory from the moment you advertise the property for sale or rent.
- Are you going to upload it to Idealista or Fotocasa? You need the label.
- Are you going to put a “FOR SALE” sign on the balcony? The law requires you to have the certificate.
- Are you going to leave it in the hands of a real estate agency? The agency has the legal obligation to ask you for it in order to promote it.
Note: If you publish your property without indicating the energy rating, you expose yourself to inspections and sanctions from the Canary Islands administration.
What happens if I don’t have it? The Fines
The sanctioning regime is no joke. Fines for non-compliance are divided into three levels:
- Minor (from €300 to €600): For example, advertising the sale or rental of the property without mentioning the energy rating.
- Serious (from €601 to €1,000): Selling or renting without handing over the certificate to the buyer/tenant.
- Very serious (from €1,001 to €6,000): falsifying information or acting as a certifying technician without the proper certification (beware of “cheap certificates” on the internet made by unregistered persons).
In addition to the fine, the Notary will halt the sale. By law, the notary must attach the original certificate to the public deed. Without the certificate, there is no sale.
Are there exceptions? Who is exempt?
In the Canary Islands, there are very few exceptions. You are only exempt if your property is:
- An officially protected building (historical monument).
- A temporary construction (period less than 2 years).
- Industrial or agricultural buildings (the non-residential part).
- Detached buildings with a total usable area of less than 50 m².
- Homes that are purchased for complete renovation or demolition (this must be explicitly stated in the deed before a notary).
Common myth: “My house is very old, it’s not necessary”. False. Precisely old houses are the ones that consume the most energy and the ones the administration wants to have under control.
The problem is not the PDF, it is the Registration at the Ministry.
This is where many homeowners have problems. It is not enough for an architect to visit your house and make a report.
For the document to be valid, it must be registered with the Ministry of Ecological Transition of the Government of the Canary Islands. This process generates an administrative fee and issues the Official Label (the famous sticker with colors and letters).
If you have the technician’s report but not the official record, you have nothing.
Does the certificate expire?
Yes. It has a maximum validity of 10 years. Exception: If your rating is very low (letter G), the administration could reduce the validity in future regulatory reviews, although for now the general rule is 10 years. Check the issue date if you already have an old one.
The advantage of Elite Real Estate: Own Technical Department
Unlike other real estate agencies that have to subcontract and wait days for an external technician, at Elite Real Estate we have architects and building surveyors on staff.
What does this mean for you?
- Speed: We can carry out the technical visit within 24/48h.
- Comprehensive Management: We prepare the report, pay the fees, and register it electronically with the Government of the Canary Islands.
- No surprises: We deliver the official label ready to go to the notary.
Don’t risk a sale over bureaucratic paperwork.
Do you need the Energy Certificate urgently in Gran Canaria? -> Contact our technical team now