QR codes Are Now Essential for Energy Audits

As of September 1, 2025, all energy performance certificates (DPE) must include a QR code. This change aims to increase the transparency of a document that has become essential for the sale or rental of housing. It marks a new step toward ensuring the reliability of real estate information and combating energy-inefficient buildings.
 

Centralized digital access to information
Until now, energy performance reports (DPE) were provided in paper or PDF format, posing a risk of tampering or inaccuracies. Now, each report includes a QR code that links to the property’s official record hosted by ADEME. Buyers, tenants, or banks can thus verify the date of the assessment, the identity of the certified assessor, and all the technical data used to determine the energy efficiency rating.
 

This system establishes a new level of traceability. A property owner will no longer be able to present an outdated or altered energy performance report: the QR code will always link to the official, validated version stored in the national database. This represents a decisive step in the fight against inaccurate energy performance reports, which have long been a source of mistrust among market participants.
 

A Catalyst for the Real Estate Market
The strengthening of the Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) comes amid increasingly stringent regulations. Since 2023, rental properties rated G have been gradually banned, and those rated F will follow in the coming years. Energy-efficient renovations are therefore becoming a necessity for many homeowners.
 

The QR code also makes the work of notaries, real estate agents, and banks easier by providing an official and easily accessible source of information. For buyers, it becomes easier to compare two properties and assess future costs related to energy performance. Finally, for the government, this system makes it possible to track statistics on the housing stock with precision, allowing for an evaluation of the impact of renovation policies.
 

Toward Greater Standardization of Diagnosis
With the QR code, the DPE is moving toward digital standardization. Centralized data will eventually feed into public databases, which will be useful to both researchers and local governments.
 

However, some professionals fear that this will lead to increased complexity and higher costs for small transactions. Overall, though, the reform is seen as a sign of professionalism. It should help boost confidence in the real estate market, as energy efficiency becomes a key factor in property valuation.