Do you know how efficient and economical the property you live in really is? If it is an older flat or house that has been in your hands for decades, chances are you can only make an educated guess. All properties sold since 1 January 2013, on the other hand, are required to officially have this label, which assesses, among other things, the energy balance and the efficiency of renewable energy use. September 2020 then brought significant changes that partly made it impossible to compare the original and the new labels. Both the calculation methodology itself and the graphic presentation of the result were revised.
The A to G alphabet
On the secondary market, flats with an energy rating from D (the fourth worst category, “Less efficient”) all the way to G (“Extremely inefficient”) are no exception. Given energy prices, which have often doubled or more since the outbreak of the war in Ukraine, the cost of running a home is a key issue for many households.
Photovoltaics and electromobility go hand in hand
New developments are today practically never offered on the market in any class other than B (“Very efficient”) or A (“Extremely efficient”), as current legislation essentially rules it out. While it is true that with a “B” you can hardly go wrong, the best-rated properties can bring you really noticeable savings, running into tens of thousands of crowns a year.
Spend now, save later
In practice, it can pay off to “throw in” a few hundred thousand extra for a more energy-efficient flat. Its slightly higher purchase price can then pay for itself many times over across an investment horizon of several decades if the owner lives there. At the same time, low energy costs push up the asking price of the property on the rental market too, making it a win-win situation. Another important aspect is comfort inside the property and the impact on the health of its occupants. Technologies such as central heat-recovery ventilation, automatic window shading, heat pumps or solar thermal collectors improve quality of life while saving money. As a result, older flats, where the standard even after renovations often corresponds to the turn of the millennium, may in time find themselves at a disadvantage on the property market. Not least in connection with the coming demographic changes we wrote about in the FLAT SERVICE Advisor recently.
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Watch out for other costs
Before you invest in any new-build property, we strongly recommend that you confirm with the seller the exact structure of the future costs associated with owning it. One of the major topics of recent times is the rising outlay on mandatory contributions to the repair fund and on fees for services you may not use but which you commit to paying together with the other unit owners after the purchase. These costs include, for example, the operation of a reception desk, garages and security systems, payments for energy in the common areas or landscaping upkeep. A specific item are perks such as a private fitness and wellness zone, which is part of an ever-growing number of residential projects. According to an analysis by the HypoIndex portal, payments for perks and services account for 20% of operating costs in older properties, while in new developments the figure is 40%. On the other hand, owners of new flats spend on average about a quarter less on energy. Would you like to rent out your investment property on the most advantageous terms? Then entrust it to an experienced management company that will find a suitable tenant, handle all the administrative formalities and send a guaranteed amount of rent to your account every month. Get in touch at sales@flatservice.cz or on +420 277 000 330 and we will be happy to explain everything and arrange a no-obligation viewing of your flat.
