Energy label requirements for landlords in the Netherlands (2026)
Do you rent out a property in the Netherlands? Then you face more energy label rules than just the label obligation itself. This article sets out all the requirements for landlords: when a label is mandatory, how high the fine is (up to € 1,030), why your rental home must have at least label D by 1 January 2029, and how the label affects your maximum rent through the rental points system.
💡 Rental property without a valid label? Arrange it in time — calculate the price for your home right away.
Calculate your price →Is an energy label mandatory when renting out?
Yes. When entering into a new rental contract you are required to:
- 📄 Present a valid, registered energy label to the tenant.
- 🔤 State the label letter in the rental listing (for example on Funda or Pararius).
The label must be officially registered in EP-online by a BRL 9500-certified advisor. An old provisional label or your own estimate does not count. Read more about exactly when a label is required in energy label required when selling and renting.
How high is the fine without an energy label?
If you rent out without a valid label, the Human Environment and Transport Inspectorate (ILT) can impose a fine. For landlords the higher, business rate often applies:
An official energy label costs from € 220 at Hollands Duurzaam (apartment from € 275), including VAT, inspection and registration. Arranging it in time is therefore not only mandatory, but simply cheaper than the risk.
What minimum energy label must a rental home have (2029)?
There is no minimum yet, but that is changing. Rental homes with energy label E, F or G must be upgraded to at least energy label D by 1 January 2029. This requirement is laid down in the Buildings and Living Environment Decree (Bbl).
- ⚖️ No rental ban, but the municipality can enforce it (for example with an order subject to a penalty payment) to ensure the home reaches label D.
- 🏢 Exemptions: small detached homes (< 50 m²), demolition within two years, and rental homes in a mixed VvE that does not agree to upgrading communal parts.
What the requirement means exactly and how to get from E/F/G to D is covered in energy label D required for rental homes from 2029.
How does the energy label affect the rent?
Since the Affordable Rent Act the energy label counts more heavily in the housing valuation system (WWS), the points system that determines the maximum rent. For a self-contained home:
- ✅ A good label (A and above) earns plenty of points — and therefore a higher permitted rent.
- ❌ Labels E, F and G cost minus points: 4, 9 and 15 respectively.
The difference between label G and label A can run to dozens of WWS points — enough to move a home from the social rented sector to the free sector. See the full points table in energy label and WWS rental points. Hollands Duurzaam can also carry out the complete rental point count for you.
What changes in 2026 for landlords?
From 29 May 2026 new energy label rules apply that also affect landlords:
- 🏛️ Monuments no longer exempt — national, provincial and municipal monuments now also need an energy label when rented out.
- 🔋 Home battery counts — a battery of at least 5 kWh combined with solar panels improves the label score.
- 🅰️ New class A0 — for (new-build) homes that are fully emission-free.
Step-by-step: how to arrange it as a landlord
Whether you rent out one home or manage a whole portfolio, this is the smart order:
- 1️⃣ Check your current labels — which homes have no valid label, and which are on E, F or G?
- 2️⃣ Arrange missing labels now — avoid a fine at the next tenancy and know your rental points immediately.
- 3️⃣ Plan the E/F/G homes towards 2029 — often one or two targeted measures (insulation, glazing, boiler) are enough for label D.
- 4️⃣ Register a new label after upgrading — only then does the improvement count for the requirement and your rental points.
Do you manage several rental homes in the Groene Hart region? Hollands Duurzaam inspects homes efficiently one after another and delivers an official label plus concrete improvement advice per property. See how we can work together →
Frequently asked questions
Is an energy label mandatory when renting out a property?
Yes. When entering into a new rental contract you must be able to present a valid, registered energy label to the tenant, and state the label letter in the listing. Without a valid label you risk a fine from the ILT: up to € 515 for private individuals and up to € 1,030 for business landlords.
What minimum energy label must a rental property have?
There is no minimum yet, but rental homes with label E, F or G must be upgraded to at least energy label D by 1 January 2029. This requirement is laid down in the Buildings and Living Environment Decree (Bbl). There is no rental ban, but the municipality can enforce it.
How does the energy label affect the rent?
Through the housing valuation system (WWS). Since the Affordable Rent Act the energy label counts more heavily: a good label earns points (and therefore a higher maximum rent), while labels E, F and G cost minus points (4, 9 and 15 respectively for a self-contained home).
Are there exemptions for landlords?
The label obligation when renting applies almost always. Exemptions apply to the 2029 label D requirement: small detached homes (under 50 m²), homes to be demolished within two years, and rental homes in a mixed owners' association (VvE) that does not agree to changes to communal parts. Note: since 29 May 2026 monuments are no longer exempt from the label obligation when renting.
How long is an energy label for a rental home valid?
Ten years from the registration date in EP-online. So you do not need a new label for every new tenancy, as long as the current label is still valid.
Request an energy label for your rental home?
Avoid a fine and know your rental points straight away. At Hollands Duurzaam you pay from € 220 for an official energy label including free improvement advice. We are BRL 9500-MWA-W certified, a member of AVEPA and register directly in EP-online.