Getting an energy performance certificate in Luxembourg: documents, visit, timelines
By Yacine Sahnoune, founder of renov.lu
To get an energy performance certificate (CPE or Energiepass) in Luxembourg, first check that no valid certificate already exists, choose an architect or consulting engineer registered with the OAI or an expert approved by the Minister of the Economy, gather your plans and records of works, host the expert’s site visit, then check the certificate you receive, valid for 10 years. No deadline is set by the regulation: it all depends on the expert’s schedule and the documents you provide.
- 5 steps: check what exists, choose the expert, gather documents, host the visit, check the certificate
- 2 types of expert: OAI members and experts approved by the Minister of the Economy (5-year approval)
- Official list: published on guichet.lu, version of 21 May 2026
- Legal deadline: none is set by the regulations
- Key documents: plans, year of construction, insulation and window invoices, heating and ventilation details
- Through renov.lu (commercial commitment, not a rule): call-back within 24 hours, certificate usually within 72 hours of the visit, €475 for a house
- Flat: one certificate for the whole building, ask the building manager first; if there is none, the obligation remains with the seller or landlord (Grand-Ducal Regulation of 9 June 2021, Art. 14)
- New build: « as built » calculation sent to the mayor within 2 months of handover
Save time: an approved expert calls you back within 24 hours
Tell us the reason and the property type: renov.lu’s partner expert books the visit and issues your certificate at the negotiated rate of €475 for a house.
Choosing your expert: OAI member or approved expert
In Luxembourg, two types of professional can issue a certificate for a residential building: architects and consulting engineers registered with the OAI (Ordre des Architectes et des Ingénieurs-Conseils) and experts approved by the Minister of the Economy. Approval is granted for 5 years: an expert whose approval has lapsed can no longer issue certificates.
| Professional | How to check | Good to know |
|---|---|---|
| Architect or consulting engineer registered with the OAI | Ask for proof of OAI membership, shown on their professional documents | Often chosen when the certificate accompanies an alteration or building project |
| Expert approved by the Minister of the Economy | Look for the name on the official list of experts for residential buildings on guichet.lu (version of 21 May 2026) | 5-year approval, to be checked when you order |
You are free to choose your expert; no one is assigned to you. A document drawn up by someone outside these two groups has no value as a certificate and cannot be used to sell, let or apply for the Klimabonus. The general rules (mandatory cases, classes, validity) are explained in our energy performance certificate guide.
The 5 steps to get your energy performance certificate
Check whether a valid certificate already exists
A certificate is valid for 10 years and stays with the building. Find the previous seller’s one or, for a flat, ask the building manager for the building’s: if it is under 10 years old, you have nothing to order.
Choose an expert and get a written quote
The quote should state the price including VAT, travel, visit date, delivery time and scope (the whole building for a flat). Price benchmarks: energy certificate cost.
Gather your documents
Plans, year of construction, invoices and descriptions of insulation, window and heating works: what you can prove, the expert does not have to assume (detailed list below).
Host the visit
The expert goes through the building from cellar to attic, measuring and photographing the envelope and systems. Make sure every technical room is accessible.
Receive and check the certificate
Check the three classes, address, date and data before publishing a listing, then keep the original: on a sale, it goes to the buyer.
Documents to prepare before the visit
The more evidence you provide, the more accurate the calculation and the shorter the visit. Without proof of hidden insulation (behind a lining, under a floor), the expert has to use cautious assumptions, which can cost you a class.
| Document | What it is used for | If you do not have it |
|---|---|---|
| Plans (floors, sections, facades) | Floor areas, volumes, glazed areas | The expert measures on site: a longer visit |
| Year of construction or date of the first building permit | Identifying the construction method and original materials | The municipality can tell you about the original permit |
| Invoices and descriptions of insulation and window works (thickness, material, glazing type) | Proving what can no longer be seen | Site photos, technical data sheets, a certificate from the contractor |
| Heating, hot water, ventilation (type, output, year, energy) | Calculating primary energy and CO₂ | The expert reads the appliances’ rating plates |
| Solar panels, photovoltaic or thermal | Including production in the calculation | Contract, invoice or installer’s data sheet |
| Previous certificate | Starting from existing data and measuring progress | Not essential |
| Apartment building: list of units, plans of common parts | Issuing the whole-building certificate | Ask the building manager |
What the expert surveys during the visit
The visit is used to record the actual condition of the building, which plans do not show. The expert records in particular:
- The envelope: make-up of walls, roof or attic floor, floors above the cellar, presence and thickness of insulation where visible.
- Windows and doors: frame type, single, double or triple glazing, approximate year.
- Heating and hot water: oil or gas boiler, heat pump, wood, district heating, radiators or underfloor heating, hot water tank.
- Ventilation: natural, extract-only or balanced with heat recovery.
- Renewable production: photovoltaic panels, solar thermal collectors.
How long the visit takes depends on the size of the building and the documents provided. Someone must be present to open every room, the cellar, the boiler room and the access to the attic.
Photograph the insulation and keep the data sheets during the works. At the next certificate, this evidence stops hidden insulation being ignored in the calculation, which matters if you are aiming for the Klimabonus class bonus.
How long does it take to get an energy performance certificate?
No deadline is set by the regulations for issuing a certificate: it depends on the expert’s schedule, the size of the building and the documents provided. Through renov.lu, the partner expert calls you back within 24 hours to book the visit and usually delivers the certificate within 72 hours of it.
| Your situation | When to order the certificate |
|---|---|
| Sale or letting | Before publishing the listing: the energy performance and thermal insulation classes must appear in it |
| Renovation with the Klimabonus (insulation, windows, ventilation) | Before works: the certificate goes with the application for approval in principle; a second one follows completion |
| New build | With the permit application, then an « as built » calculation sent to the mayor within 2 months of handover |
| Extension or major alteration | At the end of works, to reflect the building’s new condition |
Flats, new builds, subsidised renovation: special cases
| Case | What you ask for | Specific point |
|---|---|---|
| Flat for sale or rent | The whole building’s certificate, first from the building manager; if there is none, the seller or landlord must still provide it (Art. 14 of the 2021 regulation) | A certificate for your unit only is possible solely as a supplement to the building’s |
| Co-owned building | A joint certificate, usually ordered by the building manager | Price depends on the number of units; it serves all co-owners for 10 years |
| New build | The project’s certificate, then the « as built » calculation | Supplement on actual consumption within 4 years, with no effect on validity |
| Extension or alteration | A new certificate if the works require a permit or clearly change performance | No new certificate below 10% of the area of the elements concerned, or for technical systems under €1,500 (house) / €3,000 (apartment building) |
| Renovation with the Klimabonus | One certificate before and one after the works | They prove the class bonus (+20 to +50% on the insulation grant); there is no « under 4 years old » rule |
For a renovation covering several elements, energy advice from an approved advisor is also mandatory: it is a separate service from the certificate. Duties specific to selling and letting (listing, handing over the original, copy for the tenant) are set out in energy certificate obligations when selling or letting.
Checking the certificate you receive: 5 checks
A wrong certificate ends up in your listing and in the buyer’s file: check it as soon as you receive it.
- All three classes are shown: energy performance, thermal insulation, environmental performance (CO₂).
- The address and scope are correct: the whole building for a flat, with the right floor areas.
- The date of issue appears on the document: it starts the 10-year validity.
- The expert is identified, with their status as OAI member or approved expert.
- Completed works are taken into account: if recent insulation or windows are missing, send the evidence to the expert and ask for a correction before publishing the listing.
A disappointing class does not stop you selling or letting. To see which works would improve it, read improving your home’s energy rating.
Having your certificate issued through renov.lu
To avoid hunting for an available expert, describe your need (sale, letting, renovation) and your property: an approved expert working with renov.lu calls you back within 24 hours. House: €475. Flat or apartment building: quotation based on the number of units. Free request, no obligation.
Your certificate, without searching for an expert
Two-step form, call-back within 24 hours, certificate valid for 10 years.
Frequently asked questions about getting an energy certificate
Can you get an energy certificate without a site visit?
In practice no, for an existing building: the expert must see the insulation, windows and systems for themselves, which plans alone do not show. Be wary of fully online offers with no visit. For a new build, the first calculation is made on plans, then an « as built » calculation is sent to the mayor within 2 months of handover.
Where can I find the official list of approved energy certificate experts?
On guichet.lu, which publishes the list of experts for residential buildings approved by the Minister of the Economy (version of 21 May 2026). Architects and consulting engineers registered with the OAI are also authorised without appearing on that list. Approval lasts 5 years: check it is current when you order.
How long does it take to get an energy performance certificate?
No deadline is set by the regulations: it depends on the expert’s schedule, the size of the building and the documents provided. Through renov.lu, the partner expert calls back within 24 hours and usually delivers the certificate within 72 hours of the visit. Order the certificate before publishing your listing, since the classes must appear in it.
Do I need to be present during the expert’s visit?
You or someone you trust (estate agent, tenant, neighbour) must be there to open every room, the cellar, the boiler room and the attic access. Have plans and invoices for past works ready: the expert cannot assess what they cannot see and what you cannot prove.
What should I do if my energy certificate contains an error?
Contact the expert who issued it and attach the evidence: insulation or window invoices, data sheets, photos, plans. A wrong floor area or forgotten works can cost a class. Have the certificate corrected before publishing a listing or filing a Klimabonus application.
Can the certificate issued for a Klimabonus application be used to sell or let?
Yes. A certificate is one and the same document whatever the reason for ordering it: the one issued after your works stays valid for 10 years and can be used for a sale or letting within that period. It is often the most useful one, since it reflects the improvements made.