Provisional and definitive energy label: what's the difference?
Short answer: the provisional energy label no longer exists. It was abolished on 1 January 2021. Anyone selling or renting out a home needs a definitive energy label — drawn up by a certified advisor who inspects the property on site. Yet the term «provisional label» still comes up regularly, and that causes confusion. On this page we set out the difference.
The difference at a glance
| Provisional energy label | Definitive energy label | |
|---|---|---|
| Status | Abolished since 1 January 2021 | The only valid label |
| How determined | Estimate based on construction year and property type | On-site inspection + calculation according to NTA 8800 |
| Who issued it | Assigned automatically, without a visit | BRL 9500-certified EPA advisor |
| Valid when selling/renting | No — it never was | Yes |
| Registered in EP-online | No | Yes |
| Validity | N/A | 10 years |
What was the provisional energy label?
Until 2021, almost every homeowner in the Netherlands automatically received a provisional energy label. That label was an estimate: it was derived from national data on construction year and property type, without anyone ever having seen the home. Whether you had just insulated the roof or still had single glazing — the provisional label had no idea.
That is precisely why it had no legal validity. It was meant as a first indication, not as proof. To turn it into a valid label, you had to have it confirmed by a recognised expert. With the introduction of the NTA 8800 calculation method on 1 January 2021, that entire route — including the provisional label itself — was scrapped.
Please note: do you still come across a «free provisional energy label» or an «energy label check» online? That is an indication at best. It has no legal status whatsoever and it is of no use to you at the notary.
What is a definitive energy label?
Since 2021 the definitive energy label is the only energy label that exists. This is how it comes about:
- A BRL 9500-certified EPA advisor inspects the property on site and measures what is actually there: insulation, glazing, heating, ventilation, solar panels and the floor area.
- The home is calculated according to NTA 8800, which produces the primary fossil energy use and therefore the label class (A++++ to G).
- The label is registered in EP-online, the official register of the RVO. Only then is it legally valid.
- The label is then valid for 10 years.
Because the advisor measures the actual situation, the definitive label regularly differs from the old estimate — in both directions. A well-maintained 1930s home often does better than expected; a home that looked fine on paper can disappoint.
Why a provisional label does not help you
When selling or renting out, a valid energy label is mandatory. At the transfer at the notary you must be able to present a definitive label registered in EP-online. A provisional estimate is not enough: without a valid label you risk a fine, and in practice a missing label can delay the transfer.
When renting out, only the definitive label counts as well — among other things for the rental points (WWS), where the label class directly affects the maximum rent.
How do you get a definitive energy label?
In practice it comes down to three steps: you request the label, the advisor visits for the inspection (usually about an hour), and the label is then calculated and registered. At Hollands Duurzaam you usually have the label within a few working days; if a transfer is imminent, express delivery within 24 hours is possible.
Frequently asked questions
Does the provisional energy label still exist?
No. The provisional energy label was abolished on 1 January 2021, at the same time as the introduction of the NTA 8800 calculation method. Since then there is only one type of energy label: the definitive label, issued by a BRL 9500-certified advisor after an inspection of the property.
Is a provisional energy label valid when selling or renting?
No. A provisional label never had legal validity and has not existed since 2021. At the transfer at the notary, or when renting out, you must be able to present a valid definitive energy label that is registered in EP-online. Without it you risk a fine.
Can I have my provisional energy label made definitive?
Not in the old way. Until 2021 you could have a provisional label confirmed online by a recognised expert. That route no longer exists. Today an advisor inspects the property on site, calculates it according to NTA 8800 and registers the label in EP-online.
I still have an energy label from before 2021. Is it still valid?
Yes, if it was a definitive registered label at the time. An energy label is valid for ten years from the registration date, so a label from 2019 for example runs until 2029. You can recognise it by its registration in EP-online. A provisional estimate does not count.
What does a definitive energy label cost?
At Hollands Duurzaam you pay from 220 euros for an official energy label for a home, including free improvement advice and with no travel costs within our service area. The exact price depends on the property type and the floor area.
More in the knowledge base
- Energy label A to G: what do the label classes mean?
- When is an energy label required?
- How long is an energy label valid?
- NTA 8800: the calculation method behind the label
- What does an energy label cost?
Need a definitive energy label?
At Hollands Duurzaam you pay from €220 for an official energy label including free improvement advice — a fixed all-in price, with no travel costs in our service area. BRL 9500-MWA-W certified, member of AVEPA, registered directly in EP-online. Express delivery within 24 hours possible.