Building energy classes are coming – how will they change the real estate market in Poland?

Poland is the last country in the European Union that has not yet implemented energy classes for multi-family buildings. This situation will change in mid-2026, when regulations introducing mandatory energy classification come into force. This is a change that could significantly reshuffle property values on the Polish market – both apartments and single-family houses.

What are building energy classes?

Energy classes are a system of labeling buildings according to their energy efficiency – that is, how much energy they consume for heating, cooling, ventilation, and hot water preparation. The scale usually covers classes from A (most energy-efficient) to G (least efficient). This system has been functioning for years in most European Union countries and has a huge impact on property values.

In Poland, energy performance certificates have been in force until now, but they were not as widely used and recognized as energy classes known from household appliances. New regulations are set to change this – the building’s energy class will become one of the key parameters when buying or selling property.

Experience from other countries – what awaits us?

The introduction of energy classes in other European Union countries has had clear effects on the real estate market. Apartments and houses with the lowest energy parameters lost up to 40% of their market value. These are not marginal decreases – we’re talking about real devaluation that affected millions of properties across Europe.

At the same time, properties with high energy class (A, B) gained a price premium. Buyers began to treat energy efficiency as one of the key decision factors – on par with location, floor space, or finishing standard. Lower heating bills are one thing, but equally important has become the prospect of future resale.

Which properties in Poland are most at risk?

A large part of private housing stock in Polish cities dates from 1970-1990. Panel buildings (large-panel system buildings), which have often already undergone thermal modernization (insulation, window replacement), will probably end up in the middle of the energy classification – in classes C, D, or E. This is not a tragic result, but it also doesn’t provide a price premium.

Uninsulated tenement houses from the turn of the 19th and 20th centuries and older construction that hasn’t undergone any modernization will fare worse. These properties may end up in the lowest energy classes (F, G), which will significantly hinder their sale at previous prices.

The most difficult situation may await owners of single-family houses built before 1990 that have not undergone thermal modernization. Uninsulated houses with thin insulation, old windows, and outdated heating systems will almost certainly end up in the lowest classes. Nationwide, we’re talking about hundreds of thousands of such properties.

What does this mean for sellers?

If you own a property with poor energy parameters and are planning to sell it, it’s worth considering action before the regulations come into force. After the introduction of energy classes, buyers will have clear information about the building’s efficiency, which may translate into lower offers.

An alternative is to invest in thermal modernization – building insulation, window replacement, heating system modernization. Such actions can raise the property’s energy class and thus its market value. However, it’s worth carefully calculating whether the cost of modernization will be recovered in the sale price.

What does this mean for buyers?

For people planning to buy property, energy classes are good news. First, they will gain clear information about what operating costs they can expect. Second, apartments in modern, energy-efficient buildings will be a better long-term investment – they will be easier to sell in the future.

It’s worth paying attention to the energy parameters of properties now, even if official classes are not yet in force. An apartment in a building with low energy demand means not only lower bills but also protection against value decline.

How can we help?

At Eternel Real Estate Agency, we pay attention to the energy parameters of properties in every transaction. We help our clients assess how the introduction of energy classes may affect the value of the property under consideration. If you’re planning to buy or sell an apartment or house and want to be prepared for upcoming changes – please contact us.