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Energy Certificate for a Holiday Rental Home: Minimum Class F or D
The Canary Islands holiday rental law requires a minimum energy rating: F for buildings that predate 2008 and D for later ones. What it means, how long the certificate lasts and what to do if your home is rated G.
The energy certificate is one of the technical requirements for a holiday rental home (vivienda vacacional) in the Canary Islands that raises the most questions. The law does not just ask you to have one: it requires a minimum rating. If your home falls below it, you may have a problem. Here is exactly what the rule asks and how to act.
What the law requires
The interim technical requirements for holiday rental homes are in the seventh transitional provision of Law 6/2025, as rewritten by Law 7/2026. They apply until the implementing regulation exists, which has not been published to date.
Among them is the minimum energy rating:
| Age of the building | Minimum rating |
|---|---|
| Legally existing on 31 December 2007 | Class F |
| Built after that date | Class D |
Remember that the scale runs from A (most efficient) to G (least efficient). A home built before 2008 rated G falls below the required minimum.
Exceptions
The requirement does not apply to homes excluded from certification, or where heritage rules prevent it. In that case, the highest rating possible is required.
In addition, each declaración responsable is subject to the requirements of Directive (EU) 2023/1791.
How the certificate is obtained
The certification procedure is regulated by Royal Decree 390/2021, which replaced Royal Decree 235/2013. If you see the latter cited somewhere, the information is out of date.
The certificate is issued by a competent professional after visiting the property and is registered with the relevant regional body.
Validity
- Up to 10 years, as a general rule.
- 5 years, if the rating obtained is G.
What to do if your home is rated G (or below the minimum)
The law sets the minimum but does not tell you how to reach it. In practice:
- Request an updated certificate and review which parameters penalise the rating.
- Work out with a professional which measures would improve the rating: these usually involve the building envelope, the heating, cooling or hot-water systems and the use of renewable energy.
- Weigh the cost against the benefit before deciding.
- Issue a new certificate once the improvements are done, so it reflects the real rating.
Do not leave it to the end. If you plan to file the prior notification of classified activity or apply for consolidated use, check your rating first. Improving it may require works and time.
Other technical requirements to review at the same time
The certificate is not the only requirement in the seventh transitional provision. It also requires:
- Domestic hot water with solar panels where technically and legally possible, or with another equivalent renewable source (with technical certification).
- Road access to the plot or the nearest reasonable point. If the last stretch is on foot or the access is unpaved, this must be stated in the advertising.
- A minimum of 35 m² of usable floor area, with an alternative if it is not reached (meeting the minimum habitability standard plus at least one compensating element from the law's list).
- Two full bathrooms if there are more than 4 places and three if there are more than 8.
An A or B rating is, precisely, one of the compensating elements that allow a home below 35 m² usable area.
Frequently asked questions
Does the energy certificate replace the technical report? No. They are different documents. The certificate shows energy efficiency; the technical report (memoria técnica) shows compliance with the rules on classified activities.
Do I need the certificate to sell or rent out the property? Every home that is sold or rented needs an energy certificate. For tourist use, the law also requires the minimum class.
How long does it take to issue? It depends on the site visit. At FuerteProyecto we deliver within 15 days at most of receiving the documentation.
At FuerteProyecto we issue your energy certificate
We produce the energy certificate for your holiday rental home in Fuerteventura and tell you whether it meets the minimum rating the law requires.
Fixed quote, no surprises. Project signed by a competent professional. Delivered within 15 days at most of receiving your documents.
- Phone: +34 620 395 305
- Email: info@fuerteproyecto.com
