The energy label affects the maximum mortgage amount you can get. How does that work exactly?
When taking out a mortgage, the maximum amount you can borrow is based on your income and the collateral. If you already have loans or fixed obligations, such as a private lease car, your borrowing capacity drops considerably, because you need to be able to carry those costs alongside your potential mortgage.
Since 2024, a new factor has been added: the energy label. Say you have energy label A or B — then you can borrow an extra € 10,000 on top of the income-based limit. With an A+/A++ label, that amount is already € 20,000, and with even more efficient homes it can rise to € 50,000. You can use this amount to bid extra on a home, without having to spend it on further sustainability improvements. The idea behind this higher amount is that the home is more energy-efficient: you could benefit from lower energy costs and therefore have a bit more room for your mortgage payments.
With a currently 'lower' energy label, there are also extra options — namely to make the home more sustainable. Think of measures to insulate the home better or installing solar panels. For a home with, say, a current C/D label, the extra borrowing amount is already € 15,000. This is, of course, intended to make the home more sustainable — not to bid higher or spend on other renovations.
Lenders are required to be transparent about the sustainability of their portfolios. That's why lenders are increasingly taking measures to encourage sustainability, through higher financing above the income-based limit and by encouraging investments in energy efficiency.
You'll see the energy label more and more often in listings for homes for sale, because it's also mandatory. Beyond that, the energy label is gaining ever more influence on the market. Not just for your insight into energy efficiency, but also for your financing options.
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