How long is a ΠΕΑ energy certificate valid in Greece?

The short answer

A ΠΕΑ (Πιστοποιητικό Ενεργειακής Απόδοσης — Energy Performance Certificate) is valid for up to ten years from the date it's issued. It expires early only if the building or unit goes through a ριζική ανακαίνιση — a "radical renovation," legally defined as renovation work costing more than 25% of the property's value (excluding the land) — in which case the ΠΕΑ's validity ends the moment that renovation is completed. Short of that, one certificate covers every sale or lease that happens within its ten years — you don't need a fresh one for each transaction.

When you're legally required to get one

Under Law 4122/2013 (Article 12), issuing a ΠΕΑ is mandatory:

• After completing construction of a new building or unit
• After completing a radical renovation
• When selling a property — the certificate and its expiry date must be disclosed to the buyer
• When leasing to a new tenant, whether long-term, short-term (Airbnb-style), or a sublease
• For public-sector buildings over 250 m² that the public regularly visits

If a valid ΠΕΑ already exists for the property, none of these sale or lease triggers require a new one — the existing certificate simply carries over, as long as it's still inside its ten-year window and no radical renovation has happened since.

Why this matters more if you host short-term rentals

Because the "new tenant" trigger in the law covers short-term lets, it's tempting to assume every new booking needs its own certificate. It doesn't. One ΠΕΑ, issued once, covers every guest who stays during its ten-year validity. What the law does require each time is narrower: when you file a short-term lease declaration with the tax authority, the ΠΕΑ's registration number has to be entered into that filing. So the certificate itself is a one-time cost per decade; what repeats is just referencing it correctly.

One more requirement worth knowing if you list a property for sale or rent: since 1 January 2021, the energy class shown on the ΠΕΑ must be stated in the listing itself — on the property portal, in the ad, wherever it's advertised.

"Radical renovation" has a specific legal threshold — renovation costing more than 25% of the building's value, land excluded — not just any refurbishment. A repainted apartment or a new water heater doesn't reset the clock; a gutted and rebuilt one might.

Turning the expiry into a deadline you won't miss

A ΠΕΑ is easy to lose track of precisely because nothing about it recurs annually — it's valid for a decade, then it quietly isn't. In Epimeleia, add the property, note the ΠΕΑ's issue date and its ten-year expiry, and attach the certificate PDF to the property record. You get a reminder well before it lapses, and the document itself — the one you'll need to show a buyer, a tenant, or the tax authority — is already there.

Before you rely on this

This guide reflects Law 4122/2013 as consolidated and published by the Ministry of Environment and Energy (ΥΠΕΝ). It does not cover every exemption (small buildings under 50 m², listed/protected buildings, places of worship, and a few others are excluded from parts of the law) or the technical process of issuing a ΠΕΑ, which requires a registered energy inspector. Confirm the current rules with a registered energy inspector or ΥΠΕΝ before relying on a date.