Energideklaration

What it is

An energideklaration (energy declaration) tells you how energy efficient a home is. It gives the building an energy class on a scale from A to G, where A means the lowest energy use and G the highest. The scale came in on 1 January 2014, so homes declared before then may have an older version.

What the class tells you

A home that meets today’s new-build requirements gets class C or better. Older homes often land in class D to G, and that is perfectly normal. A lower letter does not mean the home is bad, only that it uses more energy, which shows up in the heating cost.

How long it is valid

An energy declaration is valid for ten years. After that, it is the building’s owner who is responsible for having a new one drawn up.

What you do as a buyer

Look for the energy class in the listing or in the declaration itself. If it is D or worse, expect higher heating costs and think about what it would cost to improve, for example with better windows or a heat pump (värmepump). Check the date too: if the declaration is close to ten years old, a new one may need to be produced.