Technical condition and energy

Energy performance certificate (PENB)

In Czech: PENB

PENB (průkaz energetické náročnosti budovy) is the Czech energy performance certificate. It rates how much energy a building or flat needs and places it in a class from A (exceptionally efficient) to G (exceptionally inefficient).

Also called: energy performance certificate, EPC, energy certificate, průkaz energetické náročnosti budovy

What it means

PENB, short for průkaz energetické náročnosti budovy, is the Czech version of the energy performance certificate used across the EU. It assesses how efficiently a building uses energy, above all for heating, cooling and hot water, and sums the result up in a single letter.

The classes and their official Czech names come from Decree No. 264/2020 Sb. (vyhláška): A exceptionally efficient (mimořádně úsporná), B very efficient, C efficient, D less efficient, E inefficient, F very inefficient and G exceptionally inefficient (mimořádně nehospodárná). It lets you compare properties by one method, but it does not forecast your bills.

How it works in the Czech Republic

Under Act No. 406/2000 Sb. on energy management (zákon o hospodaření energií), an owner who sells or rents out a building or a self-contained part of one, such as a flat, must show the certificate or a copy to the prospective buyer or tenant before the contract is concluded, and hand it over at the latest when it is signed. The duty lies with the owner, or with the owners' association (SVJ). The class must also be stated in adverts and other information materials.

If the sale or rental goes through an estate agent (realitní zprostředkovatel), the owner gives the agent the graphic part of the certificate. If the agent does not receive it, the advert must show the worst class, which under the decree is G. A certificate is valid for 10 years from the day it was issued and ends earlier after a major change to the building or a change of the heating, cooling or hot-water system.

The owner orders the certificate from an energy specialist (energetický specialista). These rules reflect the situation as of October 2026; the act and the decree are amended from time to time, so check the current wording before you sell or let.

Practical example

For example, you find a 2+kk flat in Brno offered by a private landlord, with class C in the advert. Before you sign the lease (nájemní smlouva), ask to see the certificate, check that the address matches, and make sure you get a copy at signing.

Another case: a family house comes with a certificate issued eight years ago, but the seller mentions that the gas boiler has since been replaced with a heat pump. Ask whether a new certificate exists, because a change of the heating system ends the validity of the old one.

What to watch out for

  • Ask for the full certificate, not just the letter shown in the advert.
  • Check the issue date and whether the heating or hot-water system has changed since then.
  • Make sure the certificate relates to the actual building or flat you are buying or renting.
  • A G in an advert may only mean the agent never received a certificate, so ask.

Frequently asked questions

Is a PENB the same as an EPC?

Yes, it is the Czech form of the energy performance certificate. The classes A to G and the rules on when it must be shown are set by Czech law.

How long is a PENB valid?

Ten years from the date it was issued, unless the building undergoes a major change or its heating, cooling or hot-water system is changed, which ends it earlier.

When should I receive it as a tenant?

The landlord must show it to you before the lease is concluded and hand it over at the latest when you sign.

  • Energy class G (energetická třída G)Energy class G (energetická třída G) is the lowest rating on the Czech energy certificate scale, meaning an exceptionally inefficient building. In an advert it can also appear simply because the agent never received a certificate.
  • Thermal insulation (tepelná izolace)Thermal insulation (tepelná izolace) is a material or layer that limits heat loss through a building's walls, roof and floors. An insulated house needs less energy for heating, which can show as a better class in its PENB.
  • Heat pump (tepelné čerpadlo)A heat pump (tepelné čerpadlo) heats a home, and often its water, by taking heat from the outside air, the ground or water and moving it indoors using electricity. How well it works depends on its design and on the house's insulation.
  • Renovation (rekonstrukce)Renovation (rekonstrukce) means repairing or modernising a flat or house by renewing parts of it, such as wiring, plumbing, the bathroom, windows or roof. In Czech listings the word can cover anything from new floors to a full rebuild.
  • Lease agreement (nájemní smlouva)A lease agreement (nájemní smlouva) is the contract under which a landlord lets a flat or house to a tenant for temporary use in exchange for rent. Residential leases in Czechia are governed by the Civil Code.
  • Purchase agreement (kupní smlouva)A purchase agreement (kupní smlouva) is the written contract in which the seller undertakes to transfer ownership of a property to the buyer and the buyer undertakes to pay the price. Ownership passes only on entry into the land register.

Sources

Laws and official pages this text is based on (in Czech).

This text is for information only and has not yet been checked by a legal or financial expert. It is not legal, tax or financial advice. Verify important details in the listed sources or with a professional.

Updated 25 October 2026

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