EPC common areas: the certificate for your apartment building

The EPC Common Areas (EPC CA) is an energy performance certificate specifically for the common areas of an apartment building: the entrance hall, stairwells, corridors, technical rooms, common basement and any communal heating or hot water installations. It applies to all apartment buildings with at least 2 dwellings, from 1 January 2022, even if there is only one owner and regardless of the sale or rental of an apartment. It is drawn up at the level of the entire building, not per individual apartment. In our experience, the EPC CA is still relatively unknown to many HOAs (Homeowners Associations). Yet it is a valuable instrument: it maps the energy performance of the common areas and provides concrete recommendations for energy-saving measures at building level.

During the inspection of the common areas, we examine:

• Common building envelope — facades, roof, basement floor/ceiling: insulation values and material characteristics
• Common heating installation — boiler type(s), capacity, year, efficiency (if central system)
• Common hot water production — boiler type, distribution losses, circulation pump
• Common ventilation — system in common areas and ducts
• Common area lighting — fixture types in entrance hall, stairwells, corridors, garage
• Renewable energy systems — communal solar panels, heat pump, CHP
• Lifts and other communal installations

During our inspections of apartment buildings, we coordinate closely with the building manager or HOA administrator to gain access to all technical rooms and gather the necessary documentation.

For the EPC Common Areas, the following documents are useful:

• Building plans (all floors)
• Technical data sheets of communal heating and hot water installations
• Maintenance reports of the heating installation
• Invoices for renovation work on common areas
• Minutes of the last general assembly (if relevant for planned renovations)
• Data on the year of construction and any modifications

The building manager or HOA administrator usually has most of this information. We recommend contacting the building manager in advance so that all documents are available in time.

The inspection of the common areas takes on average 2 to 5 hours, depending on the size of the building (number of floors, number of units) and the complexity of the communal installations. After the site visit, you typically receive the certificate within 48 hours. For large apartment buildings with many units, both the site visit and the processing may take more time.

The price for an EPC Common Areas is calculated on a custom basis based on the number of units, the number of floors and the complexity of the communal installations. Factors influencing the price include the presence of a central heating system, the number of technical rooms and the availability of documentation. Request a free quote stating the number of apartments and floors, and you will receive a transparent price within 1 working day.

An EPC for the common areas is required for apartment buildings with at least two dwellings, from 1 January 2022 and regardless of sale or rental. A type A energy expert draws it up and it is valid for 10 years. It is automatically included in the EPC of each individual apartment, which is still needed for sale or rental. Usually the property manager or the board of the owners' association requests it on behalf of the co-owners. More questions? See our FAQ. Last checked: 14 October 2026.