Key point
Check the energy certificate before preparing the advert. The energy class is used in advertising, and the information and document must be available at the required stages of the sale. An early validity check gives you time to resolve a problem before it delays publication.
Arrange the certificate before the property is advertised
The Portuguese Building Energy Certification System (SCE) states that an advertisement for the sale or letting of a covered building must identify the energy class shown on a valid energy certificate or pre-certificate. Its FAQ also states that a property cannot simply be advertised while certification is still in progress.
Check the certificate before photography, portal uploads and approval of the advert. That gives you time to resolve any issue and ensures the same verified energy class appears wherever the property is advertised.
Use a valid certificate, not a placeholder
The owner supplies the valid certificate or pre-certificate information to the agency or other advertiser. If the building falls within a statutory exception, the applicable exception should be identified rather than replaced with an invented class or a vague ‘in progress’ label.
SCE identifies several reasons why a certificate may be invalid, including expiry, absence from the SCE register, a later certificate for the same building, an invalidating watermark or stamp, certain missing site visits, or errors found through quality control. Confirm the exact record instead of relying on an old PDF saved with the property photographs.
Choose a registered qualified expert
Energy certificates are issued by SCE Qualified Experts. The official SCE portal provides searches for registered experts and existing certificates. The expert determines the information and inspection needed for the particular building; an estate agency does not assign the energy class itself.
Give the expert enough time to review the property and the available records. Where a site visit is required, a certificate issued without it can be invalid. Keep the final registered document and check that its property details match the sale file.
Put the class clearly in every advertisement
SCE says the energy class must appear alongside the other property information in the advertisement in a consistent format. The agency or advertiser must display it, and the owner must supply the valid information.
Treat the class like the asking price, location and property reference: one verified value shared across the IMOJA page and any agreed external portals. If a listing is renewed, copied or materially revised, check that nobody has carried forward an expired or superseded certificate.
Provide the information before the CPCV and the document before completion
According to SCE, before a promissory sale contract the owner must make the information in the valid pre-certificate or certificate available to the buyer. The respective document must also be delivered before the final contract.
The professional authenticating the transfer records the relevant certificate number in the transaction documents. Include this in the completion checklist with the title records, use status, condominium information and mortgage discharge. Displaying the class in the advert does not complete this step.
Use the recommendations carefully when preparing the sale
The certificate can identify measures that may improve comfort or energy performance. Those recommendations can help an owner understand the property, but they are not a promise that particular works will raise the sale price or recover their cost.
Compare the certificate with the property’s actual condition and the intended selling timeline. Correct an obvious inconsistency and obtain technical advice where needed, but do not delay the sale for broad works without a commercial and technical reason.
Seller checklist before launch
Check these points before preparing the advert so there is time to resolve any problem with the certificate.
- Search the certificate on the official SCE portal
- Confirm that it belongs to the correct building or autonomous unit
- Check that it is valid and has not been replaced by a later record
- Give the verified class to every authorised advertising channel
- Keep the registered document in the Property File
- Plan delivery of the information before the CPCV and the document before completion
- Ask a qualified professional to confirm any exception or irregular case
Official sources
Rules and data can change. Check the latest version of each source and how it applies to your property and transaction.
Prepare the certificate with the rest of the sale file.
Show us the property and the documents already available. IMOJA will organise the marketing information and explain the suitable selling route; the SCE Qualified Expert remains responsible for certification.
Prepare my property for sale ↗︎