1. Why the buyer should ask questions
Questions about energy performance certificate help reveal gaps that may not appear in a short sales description. The buyer should ask for answers that can be supported by documents and, where appropriate, official or independent verification.
2. Core questions
Is the current record valid and complete? Does it correspond to the same property, owner, unit, service or system being purchased? Have there been amendments, renewals, incidents, unpaid obligations or technical changes that are not reflected in the document? Who issued or maintains the record, and can its status be confirmed? Are there open exceptions that must be resolved before completion?
3. Evaluating the answers
Compare oral and written answers with the actual documents and reliable records. An unexplained contradiction, missing evidence or refusal to provide documents is a reason for additional verification rather than an assumption that the matter is harmless.
4. Documentation
Keep the questions, answers and supporting evidence in the due-diligence file.
5. FAQ
Q1: Why document buyer questions? A: It preserves what was asked, answered and relied upon.
Q2: What if answers conflict with official records? A: Pause reliance on the answer and verify the discrepancy.
Q3: When is the review complete? A: When material questions are supported by consistent evidence.Follow-up questions about cost and future value
Beyond confirming that an energy-performance certificate exists, ask when it was issued, whether it reflects later renovations, and whether recommended efficiency improvements remain outstanding. Where available, actual consumption data should also be reviewed because a theoretical rating does not always show the full operating cost. If near-term insulation or heating and cooling upgrades are likely, estimate those costs before purchase and include them in the negotiation, while retaining the questions, answers and certificate in the due-diligence file.
