Is an energy certificate required?

The blanket obligation to issue energy performance certificates when selling or renting buildings is questionable. Especially in cases with planned renovations and obvious need for modernization, the certificate helps little to nothing. Nevertheless, I would prefer the online version (at least the questioner does not commit an offense here) or ask the buyer about an already existing energy consultant/architect.

But that only applies to buying/selling, right? For self-used new builds you don't actually need one?

But that only applies to buying/selling, right? For self-used new buildings you actually don't need one?

It's right there in the quote: upon sale and rental

So a thermal protection certificate, which is mandatory for the building permit, easily has 50 pages including a ventilation concept/summer thermal protection. Compared to that, a standard energy performance certificate probably pales in comparison, but it only costs a fraction ...

That's right. You don't have to worry about a €250 energy certificate when you've bought a €1000 thermal insulation certificate.