NABERS operates under a cost-recovery model, where the costs of running and improving the program are largely covered by fees from its main products and services. The program’s current fee structure was introduced in 2011 and has been largely unchanged beyond annual CPI adjustments and minor changes.
Importantly, the costs of major projects, such as expanding NABERS to new sectors or doing major improvements to existing tools, were not included in the 2011 fee structure. These projects were few and far between for NABERS at the time, and their costs were left to be sourced on a case-by-case basis, through separate government agreements.
Since, the need for NABERS to conduct major development projects has grown substantially. Today, expanding NABERS to new sectors and evolving its tools to drive emerging areas of decarbonisation (such as electrification or embodied carbon), have become major lines of work for the program, strongly advocated by industry and much needed by policymakers. For this reason, NABERS conducted a detailed review of its pricing for products and services, working with all states, territories, the Commonwealth Government and 19 industry bodies representing a wide range of industry stakeholders on the NABERS Steering Committee.
The outcome of this review is the revised pricing structure effective 1 July 2025. The new pricing includes an increase in some NABERS fees and a reduction in others, but it overall increases the level of funding available for the program to invest in major development projects. This will allow NABERS to consistently be able to fund major projects to reduce the environmental impact of the built environment, such as expanding to new sectors and enhancing its rating tools.
NABERS pricing increases
As an outcome from this review, NABERS is introducing a revised pricing structure, effective 1 July 2025, which includes a price increase beyond CPI. Stakeholder bodies in the NABERS Steering Committee advocated to introduce these changes in a way that would provide greater time for industry to adjust to them. As a result, the NABERS fee increases will be phased in over two consecutive years, starting with a smaller 10% increase on 1 July 2025 and a larger 20% increase on 1 July 2026.
- 10% increase – Effective 1 July 2025
- 20% increase – Effective 1 July 2026
The figures above are inclusive of CPI (i.e. there will not be an additional CPI adjustment for those two years). From 1 July 2027, NABERS fees will resume being adjusted only by CPI into future years.
Please note that, following feedback from industry bodies in the NABERS Steering Committee, annual accreditation fees for NABERS Assessors have been excluded from these increases and will only be adjusted by CPI.
NABERS pricing decreases for small buildings and new sectors
Industry bodies in the NABERS Steering Committee highlighted that these pricing increases could disproportionally affect organisations operating in small buildings, which typically have less resources. In response, NABERS is extending the 50% small building discount that until now had been available only to office buildings, to apply to all building sectors. This means that, while fees will increase for medium and larger buildings from July 2025, small buildings in most sectors will see an overall net-decrease in certification fees compared to today.
- 50% small building discount – extended from offices to all building types
Industry bodies also have highlighted that increased fees could increase barriers to uptake in sectors the program recently expanded into, where the use of NABERS ratings is not yet common practice. In response, the new pricing structure will extend the 50% discount to buildings in new NABERS sectors, which is currently available for the first year after launch, to extend to 3 years post-launch of a new rating tool. This extension will support Assessors and building owners working to overcome the initial barriers that are common for pioneering Assessors and building owners in new sectors.
- 50% discount for new sectors – increased from 1 year to 3 years
Next Steps
The change will support our ongoing commitment to improving our rating tools to support sustainability champions across the building sector make the greatest difference possible for the environment.
For more details about the new pricing structure, please see NABERS Administration fees FY26. Should you have any questions or concerns please reach out to us.