Why do banks suddenly want to see energy certificates?

Hello everyone,

I have recently been thinking about why banks have increasingly been requiring energy performance certificates for real estate transactions. Does anyone know about this?
It seems that banks are now paying more attention to the energy quality of properties. Apparently, this is related to new renovation initiatives they are promoting to encourage a more sustainable real estate market.
Many are wondering which specific measures and regulations apply here and whether it is indeed true that one might have difficulties selling property or obtaining financing without a current energy certificate.

Has anyone had similar experiences or knows more about the background of this development?

But quite a lot has passed you by. Take a look at Wikipedia under the entry Energieausweis. Since 2004 Energy Saving Ordinance, further continued since 2020 in the Building Energy Act.

why banks have recently been increasingly demanding energy performance certificates for real estate transactions. Does anyone know about this?

Regulatory requirements. As a bank, you no longer get an audit certificate on your balance sheet if you do not consider the ESG issues including the energy performance certificates of the properties you finance.

that without a current energy performance certificate you might even encounter difficulties when selling real estate or obtaining financing.

It has been regulated by law for years and results in a fine when renting or selling if you do not present a certificate.

Thanks to the transformation driven by Blackrock and others towards an ESG-friendly society. It is actually quite astonishing how quickly this initiative/narrative is gaining ground in the Western world and especially in Europe.

How many headaches [denkmalgeschützte Häuser] sometimes cause, fortunately one is exempt from them here when selling

... I recently thought about why banks have increasingly been requiring energy performance certificates for real estate transactions.

When we applied for our follow-up financing last month (July 2024), we had to present the energy performance certificate to every loan broker. We were told that the energy standard influences the value of the house and is therefore relevant for granting the loan.

... that without a current energy performance certificate, one might even encounter difficulties with the sale of the property or financing.

The penalties can be quite severe if you sell your house without an energy performance certificate (with exceptions). Apart from that, I assume that a potential buyer will have difficulty obtaining financing approval for the desired property without an energy performance certificate. As mentioned, there are exceptions.