It is a pictogram now well known to all those who have ever been looking for new accommodation. The energy performance diagnosis (DPE) is presented in the form of a stack of seven colored arrows, from green to red and classified from A to G. Often decisive in the choice of housing and the negotiation of the sale price , the DPE has become almost essential in the eyes of buyers. But is it obligatory?
Is it obligatory to do a DPE?
The DPE is separated into two parts: it evaluates the average energy consumption of a home as well as its impact on greenhouse gas emissions (in the form of an identical pictogram, but whose arrows are colored with a purple gradient). Since the revision of the Code of Construction and Housing in August 2021, the DPE is mandatory for all housing offered for sale, as well as for all rentals except those of housing which is not inhabited for more than four months per year. Since January 1, 2023, it has been illegal to rent accommodation whose DPE exceeds 449 kilowatt hours per square meter of living space per year.
Who should carry out the DPE of a home?
In the context of a rental, the DPE must be carried out by the owner of the accommodation, and in the context of a sale, it is obligatorily up to the seller to bear the costs of production. It must be carried out by a certified and approved diagnostician: its cost is not regulated by law, prices may vary depending on the professional. Once received, the DPE must be sent to the Ecological Transition Agency (Ademe) to be approved. It is valid for a period of ten years and must therefore be redone at the end of this period. Any violation of the procedure exposes the owner or seller of the accommodation to a fine of 1,500 euros, increased to 3,000 euros in the event of a repeat offense.