APE Energy Performance Certificate in Rome: What It Is, When You Need It, and How to Get It Right
Selling, renting, or renovating a property? Italy's APE energy certificate is legally required. Find out who issues it, what it costs, and what fines you risk without one.
In a nutshell
The APE (Attestato di Prestazione Energetica — Italy's mandatory energy performance certificate) tells you how energy-efficient a property is, rating it on a scale from A4 (most efficient) to G (highest energy loss). A qualified assessor draws it up after an on-site inspection. It's valid for 10 years and must be attached to any sale or rental contract. No APE, and the property owner faces fines running into thousands of euros.
At a glance
| Cost | €100–350 on average in Rome, depending on the property size and the complexity of its systems |
| Timeline | On-site inspection: 30–60 minutes. Certificate ready: 3–7 working days. Valid for: 10 years |
| Where in Rome | A qualified assessor (architect, engineer, land surveyor, industrial surveyor) registered with the relevant Rome professional body and with SIRESL Lazio or SIAPE ENEA |
| Documents | Land Registry extract, floor plan, boiler service record, deed of origin, previous APE if one exists |
When it's compulsory
DL 63/2013 made the APE mandatory in the following situations:
Selling a property. The APE must be attached to the notarial deed (rogito). Without it the deed can be voided and the seller faces a fine of €3,000–€18,000.
New rental contract. Any type of tenancy — single room, whole flat, short-term tourist let, sublet — requires an APE attached to the contract, with the tenant's signature confirming they've seen it.
Property listings. The energy class and the EPgl index (overall primary energy indicator) must appear in every listing, online or print. Fine: €500–€3,000 if missing.
Gifting a property. Required in the deed of donation.
Major renovations. If works affect more than 25% of the building envelope (walls, roof, windows), a post-works APE is required and is also a prerequisite for claiming the Ecobonus and Bonus Casa tax incentives.
When it's not required. Renewal of the same contract with the same tenant (if the existing APE is still valid); unheated industrial buildings; detached buildings under 50 sqm; non-residential rural buildings; buildings protected by the Soprintendenza (heritage authority) where compliance would compromise their historic character.
Energy classes and what they mean for your bills
Classes run from A4 to G, defined by DM 26/06/2015. The higher the class, the lower the bills. The difference is significant: an 80-sqm flat in Rome rated class G can cost €2,500–€3,500 a year in electricity and gas; the same flat rated A1 comes in at €400–€700 a year.
Whenever you're looking at a rental or a purchase, always ask for the APE before signing anything. The energy class is a hard number that directly affects your monthly outgoings.
Who can issue an APE
Only assessors registered on regional or national lists, as required by DPR 75/2013. In Rome that means:
- Architects registered with the Ordine Architetti Roma (archroma.it)
- Engineers registered with the Ordine Ingegneri Roma (ordingroma.it)
- Land surveyors registered with the Collegio Geometri Roma (collegio.geometri.rm.it)
- Industrial and agricultural surveyors for specific property types
All must have completed an 80-hour course with a final exam, or hold an equivalent qualification. Before hiring an assessor, ask for their professional-register number, their SIRESL Lazio or SIAPE ENEA registration, and proof of professional indemnity insurance.
Watch out for conflicts of interest. The assessor who draws up the APE cannot be the building's developer, its owner, or a relative of the owner. In those cases the certificate is void.
How to get one: the process
Step 1 — Find a certified assessor. Search via the professional bodies listed above, or request quotes through platforms such as Edilportale, Habitissimo, or ProntoPro. Get at least three quotes to compare.
Step 2 — Gather the documents. The assessor will need: the Land Registry extract, an up-to-date floor plan (DOCFA format), the deed of origin, the boiler's service record with the latest bollino blu (annual maintenance tag), documentation on any air-conditioning units or solar panels, and the previous APE if one exists.
Step 3 — On-site inspection. The assessor visits the property to measure the floor areas, examine walls, windows, roof and mechanical systems, and take documentary photographs. For an average flat this takes 30–60 minutes.
Step 4 — Certificate and registration. Within 3–7 days you receive the final document showing the energy class, the technical calculations, and improvement recommendations. The assessor is legally required to register it on SIAPE (the national ENEA system at siape.enea.it) and on SIRESL (the Lazio regional registry). You get a signed paper copy, a PDF, and a unique registration code — keep this safe, it's the proof of authenticity.
Typical costs in Rome in 2026
| Property type | APE cost |
|---|---|
| Studio / one-bed under 50 sqm | €100–180 |
| One-bed / two-bed 60–90 sqm | €150–250 |
| Flat 90–130 sqm | €200–300 |
| Flat over 130 sqm | €250–400 |
| Detached house | €350–600 |
Costs rise for buildings constructed before 1976, complex heating systems, thermal-imaging surveys, or urgent delivery (within 1–2 days: roughly +30%). If you find an offer below €80 with no on-site visit, steer clear: that APE is almost certainly void and illegal.
Mistakes to avoid
- Trusting websites that sell an APE without a site visit. A certificate drawn up without the assessor physically visiting the property is void by law. You cannot use it to sell or rent.
- Accepting an APE with no SIAPE/SIRESL registration code. Without that code the document is unverifiable and has no legal standing.
- Buying a property without checking the energy class first. Discovering after you've signed the deed that the flat is rated G can mean tens of thousands of euros in renovation costs to bring it up to standard. Always ask for the APE before making an offer.
Special cases
Heritage-listed buildings in Rome. Many properties in the historic centre are protected by the Soprintendenza. An APE is still required, but the recommendations must respect the constraints — for example, adding external insulation cladding to a historic façade will not be suggested.
ATER social housing. The APE is provided by ATER (Rome's public housing authority) to its tenants. It is not the tenant's responsibility to obtain one.
Inherited property. An APE is not required for a bequest, but becomes mandatory the moment you decide to sell or rent.
Garages, cellars, attics. No APE needed if they are unheated outbuildings.
Short-term rentals (Airbnb, Booking). The APE is compulsory even for short lets, and the energy class must be shown in the online listing.
Official sources
- ENEA — Energy Efficiency
- SIAPE — National APE Information System
- DLgs 192/2005 (Normattiva)
- DL 63/2013 (Normattiva)
- DPR 75/2013 (Normattiva)
- Regione Lazio
- MISE — Ministry of Enterprise and Made in Italy
Legal references: DLgs 19/08/2005 n. 192; DL 04/06/2013 n. 63 conv. Legge 03/08/2013 n. 90; DPR 16/04/2013 n. 75; DM 26/06/2015 (Minimum Requirements Decree and APE Guidelines); DLgs 03/03/2011 n. 28; Legge 09/01/1991 n. 10.