Energy label C for offices: what does it mean in 2026?

Three years after implementation

On 1 January 2023, the obligation came into force: offices larger than 100 m² must have at least energy label C. Three years later, the dust has settled and we are seeing the real impact. Not every office complies — estimates from RVO and municipalities vary, but nationwide it is expected that around 15% of offices still have a label that is too low.

How strict is enforcement?

In the first two years, municipalities were lenient. Many locations received a warning letter and a period to still make the building more sustainable. Since the beginning of 2026, we have seen enforcement tightening. Municipalities such as Amsterdam, Rotterdam, Utrecht and also Eindhoven are actively imposing periodic penalty payments, amounting to tens of thousands of euros. In theory, the office may also be closed, although in practice this rarely happens.

What does it really cost to reach label C?

That depends heavily on where you start. A building with label F that has to make a jump to C is a different story than a D-label building. Roughly:

The cheapest gains are almost always found in LED lighting, better draught proofing and HR++ glass. Only after that do heat pumps, insulation and solar panels come into the picture.

What does this mean for sales and purchases?

An office without a valid label C demonstrably sells less well. Buyers demand either a discount equal to the cost of the renovation, or a declaration that the seller will carry out the adjustments at their own expense before completion. In practice, we see that an F-label easily costs 10 to 15% of the market value.

For owners considering a sale who still have a label that is too low, there is an interesting third route: selling as is, to a party that wants to carry out the sustainability improvements themselves. Investors with a sustainability mandate (often real estate funds) calculate with a lower discount factor than an end-user.

And after 2030?

The ministry has announced that by 2030 at least label A will be mandatory for offices. Those who are now renovating to C would be better off going straight to B or A — the additional investment is relatively small, and you avoid having to start work again in four years' time.

Unsure about the strategy? Request a no-obligation quick scan via our contact form. We calculate what making the property sustainable costs as well as what it yields upon sale.