Two apartment adverts may show the same energy class but refer to different kinds of evidence. Before arranging a viewing in Estonia, find the certificate behind the letter. A few notes will help you compare the documents and ask better questions about costs.
Find the correct building
Ask the owner or agent for the exact address and, if needed, the building’s EHR code. Estonia’s building register is at ehr.ee. Its published guide describes a map search by address, cadastral identifier or EHR code. Select the matching result; the EHR code opens the building details. The service search called “Leian teenuse” is not an address search.
If several buildings share an address, check which one contains the apartment. Then establish whether the certificate covers the whole building or a separate part. Estonian law allows a separate certificate for a building part when there is no common heating system. Do not assume each apartment has its own certificate.
Make a short record
Use the document, rather than just the advert’s letter. Record:
- The address, EHR code and building or part covered.
- The certificate number, issue date and stated validity.
- Whether it is ETA or KEK, plus the numerical indicator and energy class.
- The link and anything you still need the owner to clarify.
If you cannot find the certificate, ask for a link or copy. Leave uncertain fields blank rather than filling them from a neighbouring building’s document.
Read ETA and KEK differently
ETA is based on calculated energy demand, used for a new or substantially reconstructed building. It describes the result of a calculation, not a history of residents’ meter readings.
KEK is a weighted specific energy consumption indicator based on actual consumption data for an existing building. It provides a view of past use for the covered building or part. It still does not tell you exactly how much your household will use. Keep the calculation-based and consumption-based figures distinct when comparing apartments.
Check validity and the scale
A calculation-based certificate is valid for two years from the building’s completion; official guidance refers to the occupancy-permit date. Do not simply count two years from the certificate’s issue date. A consumption-based certificate is valid for ten years. A newer certificate for the same building or part supersedes the older one.
Estonia’s Ministry of Climate replaced the A–H scale with A–G in 2025 and changed the class thresholds. Already valid certificates were not invalidated by that change. Check the date and scale before assuming two identical letters mean identical performance.
Ask about bills separately
As a practical next step, request recent winter and summer bills for the apartment, with personal details and account identifiers removed. Ask which lines cover heating, electricity, maintenance and other charges, and whether anything is billed separately.
Do not multiply the certificate’s weighted kWh/m²/year figure by the apartment’s floor area and an electricity tariff to predict a bill. Energy types and weighting, the document’s scope, household use and prices all matter. The certificate also does not verify ownership, structural condition or the absence of damp.
A useful request before the viewing is: “Please send the current energy certificate link, confirm which building or part it covers, and share redacted examples of winter and summer bills.” This checklist concerns ordinary apartments in Estonia; clarify unusual building types or exceptions with the owner and a relevant specialist.