Renting out a flat? Energy performance certificate, working installation and what you are responsible for

Tenancy is not just about the agreement and deposit

Landlords usually finalise the agreement, deposit and handover report - and that is where the list of "paperwork" ends. Meanwhile, the 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 sorted with a single visit from a technician - more on that at the end.

Energy performance certificate for tenancy: copy for the tenant, class in the advertisement

• upon concluding the tenancy agreement, you hand over a copy of the certificate to the tenant - the obligation also covers occasional and institutional tenancy;
• failure to provide the certificate may result in 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 by predicted heating costs;
• the certificate is valid for 10 years - one is enough for many subsequent agreements, unless you carry out thermal modernisation or replace the heat source.

The basics - what the certificate is, who prepares it and what the classes A+-G mean - can be found in the guide on the energy certificate.

Installation: you are responsible for working electrics

The Civil Code (Kodeks cywilny) states clearly: the landlord is to maintain the premises in a state suitable for the agreed use throughout the duration of the tenancy. Small things (replacing a bulb, repairing a handle) are the tenant's responsibility - but the electrical installation is not a small thing. A sparking socket, a heating consumer unit or a tripping RCD are repairs on your side, and if neglected - also your risk.

If a fire or electric shock occurs, the insurer's first questions and - in a worst-case scenario - the tenant's representative's questions will concern the condition of the installation: when was it tested, by whom, with what result. The report from inspection and measurements is proof of due diligence, which you keep in the tenancy file next to the agreement and policy. Without it, it is just word against word.

Inspection when changing tenants - good practice

The natural moment to test the installation is the window between tenants - the property is empty, the technician has access to all sockets and the consumer unit. What the inspection with measurements includes:

• visual inspection of the consumer unit, protective devices and accessories (sockets, switches);
• measurement of circuit insulation resistance - detects frayed and ageing cables;
• measurement of electric shock protection and testing of the residual current device (RCD) - the one that protects life; if there is none in the property at all, you will find out from the report;
• digital report with results, assessment and recommendations.

By the way: if the tenant reports that "fuses are tripping", start with our guide on RCDs and protective devices - sometimes it is an overload, and sometimes the first sign of an installation problem. In multi-family buildings, common parts are managed by the housing association or manager - periodic building inspections are described in the post on the 5-year inspection - but the installation in your property, behind the meter, is your responsibility.

How to sort it with 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 the report sent to your e-mail. In the package, the certificate costs 308 zł instead of 399 zł - the total starts from 799 zł gross for a typical flat, with the price visible before confirming the date. The documents will serve you for subsequent contracts for years: the certificate - 10 years, the report - as a reference point for the next tests.