Disclosing and managing ratings responsibly

Sharing a Home Energy Rating 

Home Energy Ratings aren’t just a selling point – in some cases, they’re a disclosure requirement. Whether you’re a real estate agent, property manager or homeowner, it’s important to understand when a Home Energy Rating needs to be included in marketing materials and or contracts, and when you can use it as an extra selling point.

A Home Energy Rating can be included voluntarily to enhance a listing. Highlighting energy efficiency features in a listing can offer a competitive advantage in the market.

By keeping up to date with current and emerging requirements, homeowners, agents and property managers can avoid compliance risks while positioning themselves ahead of the curve. 

• ACT: ACT require disclosure of an Energy Efficiency Rating (EER) in sales and some rental listings.
• NSW: NSW is offering subsidised Home Energy Rating assessments to eligible households. This will help collect feedback to inform a larger rollout of home energy ratings in NSW.
• All other states and territories: Sharing a Home Energy Rating is voluntary in real estate listings. In the future, there is potential that disclosure of home energy ratings will be required in other states and territories across Australia. 

State and Territory governments will start considering implementations of mandatory disclosure of Home Energy Ratings in sales and rentals listings. In the future this could lead to the potential expansion of mandatory disclosure requirements across Australia.

Ensuring a certificate is an accurate representation of your home 

A Home Energy Rating shows a property’s energy efficiency at a specific point in time. If certain changes are made to a home after an assessment, the certificate may no longer accurately reflect the home’s current energy efficiency level. 

If a Home Energy Rating is required to be disclosed when selling or leasing a home as part of a state or territory disclosure scheme, a new assessment and certificate may be needed to capture these changes.

The following types of changes may affect a rating:

1. Energy efficiency upgrades have been made to the home, such as:
   • Replacing or adding fixed heating and cooling appliances (including air conditioners and fans)
   • Replacing or adding solar (PV) systems or batteries
   • Replacing or adding cooking appliances 
   • Adding or changing lighting and electrical
   • Replacing or adding draught proofing (including around windows, doors, vents and other gaps, sealing exhaust fans and downlights)
   • Replacing or adding window coverings and shading (including heavy curtains, cellular blinds, external window shading)
   • Replacing, adding or changing windows (including window tints and/or double-glazed windows)
   • Adding or replacing insulation (ceiling, walls and floors)
   • Replacing the hot water system.
2. Other changes or renovations are made to the home, such as:
   • Adding or changing the structure or shell of your home (including adding rooms or changing windows/doors, internal or external walls, floors or roof)
   • Adding or changing flooring
   • Changing the roof colour
   • Removing fixed appliances.
3. NatHERS tool and software updates: The tool and software used to generate your Home Energy Rating are updated periodically. These updates enhance user experience and ensure ratings reflect the latest calculations methods, as well as changes in technology, energy pricing and greenhouse emissions. 

To check the latest software version, visit software updates.

Updating a rating 

If you think a new assessment and certificate is required - or you’re unsure - you can:

1. Contact the assessor listed on the current certificate to discuss changes made to the home. They can advise whether a new assessment and certificate are required. If sufficient evidence of the changes can be provided, the assessor may be able to issue an updated certificate without needing to revisit the home. 
2. Find an accredited assessor on the Assessor Register to conduct an updated assessment.

How to check if a rating is valid

When including a Home Energy Rating in property marketing, it’s important to confirm the certificate and rating are up to date.

A real estate agent or property manager should always ask to see the certificate before promoting it in a listing. The certificate can be checked via the QR code or link included on the certificate. The assessor or company details can also be checked via the Assessor Register.

Official Home Energy Rating for existing homes certificates always include the Home Energy Rating logo, colour formatting and a QR code that links to a secure record. 
See our guide to the Home Energy Rating Certificate for more information.

Tracking ratings over time

Home Energy Rating Certificates are stored in a centralised database, creating a verified record of a property’s rating. 

Work is underway to develop a publicly accessible Home Energy Rating web look-up register, which will allow valuers, lenders and others to confirm a rating’s validity and track how it changes over time.

Why it matters:

• ratings may change after upgrades, major renovations or extensions
• a history of ratings provides evidence of improvements 
• access to ratings and certificates ensures assessments are transparent and trusted.

Home Energy Rating and compliance documentation

Home Energy Rating assessments are part of a broader set of compliance documents that support property transactions. For real estate agents and property managers, understanding how ratings intersect with other requirements helps streamline sales, rentals and ensures accuracy.

Compliance documents vary across jurisdictions, but can include:

• a Home Energy Rating Certificate
• building inspection reports
• strata or Owners Corporation documents
• pool fencing and smoke detector checks.

By presenting a Home Energy Rating Certificate for an existing home alongside other documentation, real estate agents and property managers can provide buyers and renters with a complete and transparent picture of a property’s energy efficiency. This not only meets disclosure requirements if required by jurisdictions but also builds credibility in the sales or lease process.

For sellers and rental providers, ensuring all documents are accurate and up to date can prevent delays and strengthen buyer or renter confidence. For buyers and renters, it reduces uncertainty and demonstrates that the property meets modern expectations for comfort, energy efficiency and energy use.