No Italian homeowner is currently required to renovate their home as a result of the European directive on building energy efficiency, and there is no ban on selling or renting properties in class F or G. The reason is simple and verifiable: Italy has not transposed the directive, and an untransposed directive does not impose obligations on citizens.
There is more misinformation circulating on this topic than on any other real estate subject. It is worth outlining what is law, what is a European objective, and what is simply false.
The facts, in chronological order
| When | What happened |
|---|---|
| May 8, 2024 | Directive (EU) 2024/1275 published in the Official Journal of the European Union |
| May 28, 2024 | Comes into force at the European level |
| May 29, 2026 | Deadline for transposition by Member States. Italy does not transpose |
| July 15, 2026 | The European Commission sends letters of formal notice to all 27 Member States |
The 2025 European delegation law did not include the directive, and three amendments submitted to introduce the delegation were rejected by both the Chamber and the Senate. Member States now have two months to respond to the formal notice; if the response is unsatisfactory, the Commission can issue a reasoned opinion, the first formal step in the infringement procedure.
It is worth noting that Italy’s delay involves not only transposition: the submission of the National Building Renovation Plan, expected by December 31, 2025, is also missing, as is compliance with the ban on incentivizing boilers fueled by fossil fuels, already required by the directive from January 1, 2025.
What the directive really provides
Objectives exist, but they are different from the individual obligations reported. Here is the actual content.
| Scope | Objective | By |
|---|---|---|
| Residential: average primary energy consumption (compared to 2020) | −16% | 2030 |
| Residential | −20 / −22% | 2035 |
| Non-residential: renovation of worst-performing buildings | 16% | 2030 |
| Non-residential | 26% | 2033 |
| New public buildings with zero emissions | — | January 1, 2028 |
| All new buildings with zero emissions | — | January 1, 2030 |
| Elimination of boilers fueled by fossil fuels | — | 2040 |
| Zero-emission building stock | — | 2050 |
The three most common false claims
1. “I will have to renovate my home by 2030”
No. The consumption reduction objectives are calculated on the national average of the building stock, not on individual properties. The State must demonstrate that the average consumption of Italian residential buildings has decreased by 16% by 2030: how to achieve that result — which incentives, priorities, and building categories — will be decided by the national plan, not the directive.
This is the most widespread misinformation on the topic and arises from confusion between an aggregated objective and an individual obligation.
2. “Homes in classes F and G will no longer be sellable or rentable”
No, and it was not included even in the intermediate versions circulated during the negotiation. The final text of the directive does not contain any ban on sale or rental linked to energy class.
3. “Homes in low classes will become unsellable”
Legally no, as mentioned. On the market side the situation is different and more honest: the price difference between energy classes already exists and is measurable. According to the Bank of Italy study published in November 2023, properties in the best four classes have average asking prices about 25% higher than those in class G.
This is not an effect of the directive: it is the market valuing energy management costs. It is the reason why energy efficiency matters even without any obligation.
What has really changed in Italy
There is a recent regulatory measure, and it is Italian: the decree of the Ministry of Environment and Energy Security of October 28, 2025, published in the Official Journal on December 5, 2025, and effective from June 3, 2026. It updates the calculation methods and minimum requirements already established by the decree of June 26, 2015.
It must be clearly stated what it is not: it is not the transposition of the European directive and does not introduce the harmonized classification scale provided for by the EU text. It concerns the way certificates are issued from that date forward.
APEs issued earlier remain valid for their ten-year period and do not require reissuing: the certificate follows the legislation in force at the issuance date, with no retroactive updates.
What to expect
Transposition will come, because a directive must be transposed and the infringement procedure has started. When and with what contents is not known: an Italian legislative decree will define obligations, timing, categories involved and — crucially for owners — which incentives will accompany the interventions.
The next formal deadline is December 31, 2026, by which the National Building Renovation Plan must be submitted in its final version.
Until then, anyone telling you exactly what you must do and when is making a prediction, not reporting a law. This also applies to us: what you can consider certain is the fact framework above, not interpretations.
Summary
The European directive exists, Italy has not transposed it, and the Commission has opened proceedings against all twenty-seven Member States. No obligations currently fall on individual owners and no ban on sale or rental is provided by the European text. What is real and already measurable is the price difference between energy classes on the market — about 25% according to the Bank of Italy — which does not depend on any directive.
If you have a property in Milano San Felice or in Segrate and want to understand how much the energy class concretely affects its current market value, we can assess it together.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Green Homes directive already in force in Italy?
No. Directive (EU) 2024/1275 has been in force at the European level since May 28, 2024, but Italy did not transpose it by the deadline of May 29, 2026. On July 15, 2026, the European Commission sent letters of formal notice to all 27 Member States. Without transposition, it does not create direct obligations for owners.
Will I be required to renovate my home?
Currently no, and the directive itself does not impose obligations on individual owners: the consumption reduction targets are calculated based on the national average of the building stock. Which interventions will be required, to whom, and with which incentives will be established by the Italian transposition decree, which has not yet been adopted.
Will I still be able to sell a home in class G?
Yes. The directive text does not provide any ban on sale or lease linked to energy class. However, the market values classes differently: according to the Bank of Italy, the price differential between the best four classes and class G is about 25%.
Do I have to renew the APE?
No. Certificates issued remain valid for the ten-year period provided. The ministerial decree of October 28, 2025, effective June 3, 2026, applies to APEs issued from that date and has no retroactive effect.
When will the transposition happen?
It is not possible to predict with certainty. The infringement procedure is underway and the next formal deadline is December 31, 2026 for the National Building Renovation Plan. Any date given as certain today is a prediction.
Is it still advisable to improve the energy class?
For market reasons and management costs, often yes — regardless of any obligation. The price differential already exists, loans for efficient properties have lower spreads, and bills weigh every month. However, the evaluation should be based on the numbers of the individual property: the cost of the intervention and the realistically achievable class improvement.
