Energy label F
Energy label F points to a home where little insulation work has been done. The good news: in these homes every first measure delivers more than anywhere else on the scale.
Contents
What does energy label F mean?
Label F means high energy use per square metre. Usually it concerns a pre-1975 home whose envelope is largely in original condition, with single or early double glazing and no insulation to speak of.
Can I sell a home with label F?
Yes. There is no minimum label for homes. You do need a valid energy label at the moment of sale, letting or handover, and it must be registered in EP-Online.
Letting is different: E, F and G carry negative points in the rental points system for self-contained homes, which lowers the maximum rent.
Where is the biggest gain at label F?
Because almost nothing has been done, nearly every measure pays off. Roof insulation is the largest and usually cheapest jump, then cavity wall insulation, then the floor, and finally HR++ glazing in the living areas.
What does it cost to have your label assessed?
Through Energielabel24 an energy label for a home costs between €199 and €489, depending on the property type and floor area. You see each assessor's price and delivery time before you choose.
Want to see how label F compares to the other classes? View the overview of all energy labels from A to G.
Label F in numbers
| Position on the scale | Scale from A++++ to G; F stands for much to gain |
| Typical for | Pre-1975 homes with little insulation |
| Calculation method | NTA 8800, mandatory since 1 January 2021 |
| Validity | 10 years |
| Required when | Selling, letting and handover |
| Assessment price range | Between €199 and €489 |
What does a home need for energy label F?
Since 1 January 2021 the NTA 8800 calculation method decides the label. A home gets energy label F when its calculated primary fossil energy use is 335.01 to 380 kWh per square metre per year. That figure follows from the insulation of roof, walls, floor and glazing, the installations for heating, hot water and ventilation, and on-site generation such as solar panels.
There is no list of mandatory measures per letter; the combination counts. In practice a home with label F often has:
- hardly any insulation
- mostly single glazing
- a conventional or improved-efficiency boiler
- pre-war homes up to and including the 1960s
Two homes with the same features can still differ by a letter, because floor area, orientation and the ratio of envelope to volume are weighed as well. Only a certified EP assessor who inspects the home can determine the label. Without proof of insulation (invoices, photos, drawings) the assessor has to assume the least favourable value for the year of construction.
The difference with label E and G
The boundaries between the letters are fixed in NTA 8800. This is how the neighbouring letters relate:
| Label | Primary fossil energy use (kWh/m² per year) |
| Label E | 290.01 to 335 kWh |
| Label F | 335.01 to 380 kWh |
| Label G | more than 380 kWh |
You reach label E by bringing the energy use below 335 kWh; label G starts above 380 kWh. The closer your home sits to a boundary, the sooner a single measure makes the difference. Which measure that is, you read on the page improving your energy label.
Frequently asked questions
Can I sell a home with label F?
Yes. There is no statutory minimum label for homes. You only need a valid energy label, registered in EP-Online, at the moment of transfer.
How do I move up from label F?
Look first for the element that has had nothing done to it; that delivers more than improving something already reasonable. The page on improving your energy label sets out the order that delivers most in practice.
Why does my neighbour have a different label in the same house?
Small differences in insulation, installations and the position of the home in the block all count. A corner house has more external wall and therefore scores lower than a mid-terrace with identical insulation.
Will my label change if I use less energy?
No. The label describes the building, not your behaviour. The class only changes when an assessor registers a new label after a change to the home.
Sources
The rules and definitions on this page come from the official sources below. Last checked on 24 September 2026.
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