The inspection

What Happens During a Dutch Energy Label Inspection?

The inspection is a technical survey of the fixed features of the home. The adviser does not judge how tidy it is or how economically you live. For an average home it takes about one to two hours.

The adviser records dimensions, insulation, glazing, heating, hot water, ventilation, cooling and solar energy, following the Dutch ISSO inspection protocol. What cannot be seen and cannot be evidenced is entered with cautious default values, so good preparation pays off.

The short answers

How long does it take?: About one to two hours for an average home, according to national guidance. Size, access, extensions and installations make a difference.
Who needs to be there?: Anyone who can give full access. It does not have to be the owner.
What do I need to prepare?: Access to the loft, meter cupboard, crawl space and installations, plus any invoices, drawings and photos of improvements.
When will I receive the label?: After the visit the data is worked out, checked and registered. There is no fixed delivery time for every home; it depends on the planning and on the property. You receive the label digitally as soon as it is registered.
Is it officially registered?: Yes. The label is registered in EP-Online, the national register managed by RVO on behalf of the Dutch government. Only a registered label is valid.

Check the total price for your address

Including VAT, the property visit and registration in EP-Online. No obligation and no deposit.

What the adviser looks at

Dimensions and the boundary of the home

The adviser establishes which spaces belong to the home and measures the relevant dimensions: floors, facades, roofs, windows and doors through which heat can escape. An existing floor plan helps, but it is checked against reality. An extension, dormer, converted garage or changed layout can affect the result.

Insulation of roof, walls and floor

Insulation that is visible or can be evidenced is recorded. In an open loft the material can sometimes be assessed directly. Behind finished walls, roofs and floors documentation is usually needed. Without it, cautious default values apply, linked to the building year and the construction.

Glazing, frames and doors

The adviser records whether there is single glazing, older double glazing, HR glass or triple glazing. Codes on the spacer between the panes can help identify it. The frame and the full window area count too, so the value on the label can differ from a figure given for the glass alone.

Heating and hot water

The fixed heating system and hot water supply are recorded: a boiler, heat pump, district heating, electric heating, solar water heater or a combination. Make, type, year and technical data can matter, so make sure type plates are accessible.

Ventilation and cooling

Natural ventilation, mechanical extraction or a system with heat recovery. Fixed cooling that belongs to the home can also be included; mobile units are not fixed installations.

Solar panels

The number of panels, their capacity, orientation and connection to the home are relevant. An invoice or product sheet with make, type and watt peak helps. Solar panels alone do not determine the label class; the whole home does.

Access and practical preparation

Clear the way to the loft hatch, meter cupboard, crawl space, boiler and ventilation unit

Make sure gates, back paths and storage belonging to the home are accessible

Put documents together in one place, or send them to us digitally beforehand

Tell us in advance if any part of the home cannot be reached

A regular energy label inspection is not a destructive survey: closed constructions are not opened up. That is exactly why photographs taken during the work and clear invoices are so valuable. See documents and evidence.

What the adviser does not look at

Your energy bill, the number of occupants and your daily heating habits do not determine the label class; the calculation uses a standardised situation. The label is also not a full building survey: defects such as rot, leaks or foundation problems need a separate inspection.

After the visit

The work is not finished when the adviser leaves. The data is worked out in approved software under NTA 8800, checked for completeness and evidence, and then registered in EP-Online. Missing access or documents supplied later can delay this. You receive the label digitally as soon as it is registered.

Frequently asked questions

Do I have to be home during the inspection?

No. A tenant, estate agent, family member or other contact person can give access, if this is agreed in advance.

Will the adviser open walls or floors?

No. A regular inspection is not destructive. Where insulation cannot be seen, documents and photographs provide the evidence.

Does the adviser look at my furniture or belongings?

No. Only the technical features of the home are recorded. It helps to put away personal documents and to clear space around installations and hatches.

Sources

Official Dutch sources, in Dutch. The facts on this page follow these sources, last reviewed in September 2026. Rules change; the official sources always prevail.

Ready to arrange your energy label?

Enter your postcode and house number and see the total price for your property, including VAT. No obligation, no deposit.

See my total price Ask a question on WhatsApp