Renting a flat? Certificate, functional installation, and what you are responsible for

Renting is not just about the agreement and deposit

Landlords usually finalise the agreement, deposit, and handover protocol — and that's where the list of 'paperwork' ends. Meanwhile, regulations add two topics that are easy to overlook: energy performance certificate (statutory obligation) and the condition of the electrical installation (your responsibility as the owner). Both can be completed with one technician visit — more on that at the end.

Certificate for rental: copy for tenant, class in advertisement

• when concluding the tenancy agreement, you provide the tenant with a copy of the certificate — the obligation also applies to occasional and institutional rentals;
• failure to provide a certificate carries a fine, in practice up to 5,000 zł;
• from 2026, the energy class and EP indicator should already be included in the rental advertisement — tenants compare offers also based on anticipated heating costs;
• the certificate is valid for 10 years — one is sufficient for many subsequent agreements, unless you carry out thermal modernisation or replace the heat source.

The basics — what a certificate is, who prepares it, and what classes A+–G mean — can be found in the guide to energy certificates.

Installation: you are responsible for functional electrics

Kodeks cywilny makes it clear: the landlord must maintain the premises in a condition suitable for the agreed use throughout the tenancy. Minor issues (changing a light bulb, repairing a door handle) are the tenant's responsibility — but the electrical installation is not a minor issue. A sparking socket, an overheating fuse box, or a tripping RCD are repairs on your side, and if neglected — also your risk.

Should a fire or electric shock occur, the first questions from the insurer and – in a worst-case scenario – the tenant's representative will concern the condition of the installation: when it was inspected, by whom, and with what result. The inspection and measurement report is proof of due diligence, which you keep in your tenancy file alongside the agreement and policy. Without it, it's your word against theirs.

Inspection upon tenant change – good practice

The natural time to inspect an installation is in the window between tenants – the property is empty, and the technician has access to all sockets and the distribution board. What the inspection with measurements includes:

• visual inspection of the distribution board, protective devices, and accessories (sockets, switches);
• measurement of circuit insulation resistance – detects worn and ageing wires;
• measurement of shock protection and residual current device (RCD) test – the one that protects lives; if there is no RCD in the property at all, you will find out from the report;
• digital report with results, assessment, and recommendations.

By the way: if a tenant reports that "the fuses are tripping", start with our guide on RCDs and protective devices – sometimes it's an overload, and sometimes it's the first sign of an installation problem. In multi-family buildings, common areas are managed by the housing association or administrator – we describe periodic building inspections in the post on the five-year inspection – but the installation in your property, beyond the meter, is your responsibility.

How to get it done in one visit

We combine the certificate and inspection with measurements into a "inspection + certificate" package: one technician visit (usually 2–3 hours), a certificate with a CRCEB number, and a report via email. In the package, the certificate costs 308 zł instead of 399 zł – the total starts from 799 zł gross for a typical apartment, with the price visible before confirming the appointment. The documents will serve you for future agreements for years: the certificate – 10 years, the report – as a reference point for subsequent inspections.