Last summer, the Human Environment and Transport Inspectorate (ILT) and the city of Amsterdam sent over 900 landlords a letter to remind them of the mandatory registration of an energy label. This label indicates how energy efficient a home is, as well as what is needed to make the home more sustainable. The more energy-efficient the home, the better for people, the environment, and the wallet.
As a result of the letter, 59% of homeowners registered a new energy label. The ILT and the city will again write to Amsterdam landlords multiple times this year. The ILT wants to implement this approach with other large municipalities in the country. Therefore, the city of Amsterdam is creating a guide based on the pilot, so other (large) municipalities can join this initiative.
No Registration
Of the over 900 landlords contacted, 41% have not applied for an energy label in the past 3 months. The ILT will investigate this group on a random basis in the coming period, as it cannot be determined in advance whether this 41% is intentionally violating the rules. It may involve landlords who might belong to one of the exceptions, such as those planning to make the home more sustainable and then apply for an energy label.
Energy Label Rental
Since 2008, a landlord is required to register the energy label of the home with the national government. Every time the home is rented out again, a valid energy label must be present. An energy label can be applied for through a certified energy advisor. The advisor conducts an inspection, determines the energy label of the home, and registers the label in EP-online, the national, public database of the Netherlands Enterprise Agency (RVO). A landlord is required to present the energy label to the tenant when renting out the home. This can be done digitally or on paper. The energy label can also be viewed and downloaded via MijnOverheid.nl.
The obligation of an energy label applies to rental, sale, and delivery of homes. The ILT notes that more than 98% have an energy label when selling homes, but this percentage is far from being achieved for rentals. This may be because landlords are still insufficiently aware of the mandatory energy label.
Energy Consumption Impact on Rent
The energy label provides both the homeowner and the tenant with more insight into how energy-efficient a rental home is, and how hot water, insulation, heating, and ventilation are arranged. For the tenant, the energy label is also relevant because it counts towards the rental points of the housing valuation system. This partly determines the maximum rent.
For the city of Amsterdam, it is important to know how energy-efficient homes are. This helps to gain insight into how many homes need to be further made sustainable to meet the challenges the city of Amsterdam has set for itself.
Supervision
The ILT monitors the presence of a valid energy label during the sale, rental, and delivery of (recreational) homes and in commercial advertisements for sale and rental thereof. Without a valid energy label, the inspection may proceed to enforcement measures, such as a warning. If a label is not arranged shortly thereafter, this may lead to the imposition of an enforcement order (LOD). By imposing an LOD, the landlord is given a determined period to comply with the energy label obligation and to register an energy label. If the landlord does not do this, the penalty amount of the enforcement order is collected. This penalty amount is always higher than the costs of applying for and registering an energy label.