Is BRL 9500 mandatory for energy labels?
Short answer: the obligation comes from the energy label, not from BRL 9500. An energy label is legally required when you sell, rent out or hand over many buildings. The label may only be prepared by a qualified EP adviser (energy performance adviser) who works for a BRL 9500-certified company. So in practice, BRL 9500 is mandatory for the label.
The rules are in the Besluit bouwwerken leefomgeving (Bbl, Dutch Buildings and Living Environment Decree). See the summary on iPLO . The Bbl replaced the former Besluit energieprestatie gebouwen (Dutch Energy Performance of Buildings Decree). Below you can see which situations apply.
BRL 9500 determines who may make an energy label. The law determines when you need a label. Do not mix up the two.
When is an energy label mandatory?
The labelling obligation differs per type of building. Homes and non-residential buildings have different trigger moments. Below is what RVO and iPLO report.
| Situation | Home | Non-residential building |
|---|---|---|
| Handover of a new build | Yes | Yes |
| Sale of an existing building | Yes | Yes |
| New rental, or extension or renewal of a lease | Yes, also when a lease is extended or renewed (from 29 May 2026) | Yes, for a new rental. For an extension or renewal, check with RVO |
| Major renovation | Yes, for a major renovation of 25% or more of the home’s volume | Check with RVO |
| Holiday home, sale or rental | Yes | Not applicable |
Since 29 May 2026, the labelling obligation also applies to monuments, for both homes and non-residential buildings. RVO reports this. Note the table: from 29 May 2026, a home also needs a label when a lease is extended or renewed.
When does the obligation not apply?
The Bbl has exceptions. A building, or part of a building, then falls outside the labelling obligation. According to iPLO, these exceptions apply, among others:
- buildings that are not heated or cooled for people, such as a shed or garage
- buildings used for religious services
- parts with an industrial function and low energy use
- buildings used for a maximum of two years
- residential functions used for less than four months a year, with expected energy use below 25% of permanent use
- detached buildings smaller than 50 m²
- buildings that have been expropriated and will be demolished
Not sure about your own building? Ask your municipality or RVO before you start the sale or rental.
Example: an office and a home in one building
Marja Bakker of Bakker Vastgoed is a fictional owner. She has a building with a home on the first floor and an office on the ground floor. The building is for sale.
The home has a labelling obligation on sale. The office also has a labelling obligation on sale. The home receives a label under BRL 9500-W, and the office receives a label under BRL 9500-U.
Marja asks for an adviser who holds both certificates. When she sells, she must show the valid label to the buyer. A label that is not registered in EP-Online (the Dutch national register for energy labels) is not valid.
Why BRL 9500 is the quality requirement
For homes, that is BRL 9500-W. For all other buildings, it is BRL 9500-U.
This certification makes the label reliable. The adviser works with the NTA 8800 calculation method and uses software that is certified under BRL 9501. This way, a buyer or tenant can trust that the figures are correct. You can read more about the calculation method in NTA 8800 explained.
A label is valid for 10 years. After that it expires, and you then need a new label.
What does this mean for you?
Ask yourself what you are going to do: sell, rent out, build or renovate. Then you know which moment triggers the labelling obligation. Next, ask an adviser with the correct BRL 9500 certificate.
You do not need to obtain BRL 9500 yourself if you only commission a label. However, the adviser and their company must be certified. You check this by asking for the certificate.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a new energy label for every rental?
From 29 May 2026, yes, according to RVO. This applies when a lease for a home is extended or renewed. A label is valid for 10 years. You only need to have it made again when it expires or when the situation changes. For non-residential buildings, check RVO on energy labels for non-residential buildings .
Can I make an energy label myself?
No. Only a qualified EP adviser may draw up and register an energy label. Read more about who the certificate is for.
What if I have a label from a non-certified adviser?
Then you probably do not have a valid label. For a sale or rental, the label recorded in EP-Online counts, according to RVO. Ask the adviser for their personal certificate and the company certificate before you pay. See also registration in EP-Online.