NatHERS ratings and certificates
Thermal performance assessments for houses and apartments. Receive a NatHERS rating, certificate and stamped plans, with advice on design changes where needed. BASIX can be included in the same quote.
- Suitable for
- New houses, granny flats, duplexes, townhouses and apartments
- From (ex GST)
- $450 certificate only · $750 with BASIX for a new home
- Includes
- Star rating, NatHERS certificate, stamped plans, certificate fee
- Turnaround
- 2–3 business days for a house or granny flat
Turnaround is confirmed in your quote and starts once all required information is received.
What you receive
- NatHERS certificate with a unique certificate number, star rating, heating and cooling loads and construction schedule
- Stamped plans that link the drawings to the certificate for your certifier
- BASIX certificate when BASIX is included in the quote, the usual case for new homes
- Design advice if the result falls short, with the practical options and the changes needed on the drawings
What to send
- Site plan with north point
- Floor plans for all levels, dimensioned, with room names
- Elevations and sections, showing ceiling heights, eaves and window heads
- Window and door schedule, if you have one, including glazing type if already chosen
- Construction type: wall, floor and roof construction, and any insulation already specified
- Heating and cooling, ceiling fans, and whether BASIX is also required
Missing something? Send what you have and we’ll tell you what else is needed before quoting.
How it works
- Send your plans. We confirm the scope, whether BASIX is included, the required documents and a fixed fee, usually within one business day.
- Modelling. The dwelling is modelled from the drawings in accredited NatHERS software for your climate zone.
- Options if needed. If the rating falls short of the BASIX caps, we set out the practical design options and the updates required to the drawings. You choose, and we re-run the model.
- Certificate issued. The NatHERS certificate and stamped plans, and the BASIX certificate where included, are sent to you ready to lodge.
Get a rating done at concept stage, before the DA drawings are finished. Moving a window or adding an eave on paper costs nothing. Double glazing a west wall after approval costs a lot.
Frequently asked questions
What star rating do I need in NSW?
NSW uses BASIX rather than the NCC's 7-star rule, but since October 2023 the BASIX thermal standard is roughly equivalent to an average of 7 stars, with separate caps on heating and cooling loads. The exact target depends on your climate zone and dwelling type.
Is a NatHERS certificate the same as a BASIX certificate?
No. The NatHERS certificate covers thermal performance only. In NSW its results are used in the thermal section of BASIX, and BASIX adds the water and energy sections. New homes on the simulation method need both, and we can include both in one quote.
Do I need NatHERS for a renovation?
Usually not. Alterations and additions can generally use the BASIX DIY thermal method. A simulation can still be worth it for large extensions with a lot of glazing, because it credits good design.
What software do you use?
We model in accredited NatHERS software, which uses the Chenath engine. Every certificate is generated through the national certificate system and carries a unique certificate number.
Can you help if the rating is too low?
Yes. We test design changes such as eaves, window size, glazing type, insulation and ceiling fans, and set out the practical options that pass, with the changes needed on the drawings.
How long does a NatHERS rating take?
Usually 2–3 business days from complete drawings for a house or granny flat. Multi-dwelling projects are quoted per project. Turnaround is confirmed in your quote and starts once all required information is received.
About NatHERS
NatHERS, the Nationwide House Energy Rating Scheme, rates how much heating and cooling a home needs to stay comfortable. More stars means less energy needed. A 0-star home does almost nothing to keep out heat or cold. A 10-star home barely needs heating or cooling at all.
How a rating is worked out
We build a 3D model of the dwelling from your drawings: every wall, window, floor, ceiling and roof, with its construction, insulation, orientation and shading. The software then simulates a year of weather, hour by hour, for your climate zone. NatHERS has 69 of them across Australia.
The output is an annual heating and cooling load in megajoules per square metre. That load is converted to a star rating using the bands for your climate zone. The same house can rate differently in Penrith and in Bondi.
How NatHERS fits with BASIX
Most other states apply the NCC’s 7-star minimum directly. NSW uses BASIX instead, and the BASIX thermal section takes its numbers from the NatHERS simulation. In practice that means:
- the dwelling must meet a heating load cap and a cooling load cap for its climate zone
- since October 2023 the standard is roughly equivalent to an average of 7 stars
- for apartments and townhouses, each unit is modelled and checked individually as well as on average
BASIX vs NatHERS: what’s the difference? →
Projects we rate
- New houses, knockdown-rebuilds and project homes
- Granny flats and secondary dwellings
- Dual occupancies, duplexes and terraces
- Townhouses, multi-dwelling housing and residential flat buildings
- Large alterations where a simulation beats the DIY method
Send your plans for a fixed quote.
We confirm the assessment scope, required information and fee before work begins. Turnaround is confirmed in your quote and starts once all required information is received.