Flemish Region – Vlaanderen
EPC certificate in Flanders
The Energieprestatiecertificaat (EPC) is the mandatory energy performance certificate in the Flemish Region for any property sale or rental.
When is the EPC mandatory?
In Flanders the EPC must be issued before any listing, whether for sale or rental.
Residential sale
An EPC is mandatory as soon as a residential property is advertised. The original is handed over to the buyer at the deed of sale.
Residential rental
For any residential property listed for rent, a copy of the EPC must be provided to the tenant when the lease is signed.
Common areas
The EPC GD is mandatory for any building of 2 or more units, regardless of any transaction.
Small non-residential
The EPC kNR is mandatory for shops, offices and commercial premises of less than 500 m² when sold or rented.
Listed or protected buildings
Places of worship
Industrial / agricultural buildings
Temporary buildings (<2 year)
Scope
Which type of EPC do you need?
Flanders distinguishes three certificate types depending on the property
Most common
Residential EPC
Houses, apartments and collective dwellings
Co-ownerships
Common Areas EPC
Common areas of buildings (min. 2 units)
< 500 m²
Small non-residential building EPC
Shops, offices and small commercial premises
Since 2022, only EPCs with label (post-2019 version) are valid for a sale.
Certificate content
Understanding your EPC certificate
The Flemish EPC provides a standardised analysis of your home’s energy performance, comparable across all properties.
Energy score
Expressed in kWh/m².year, it indicates the home’s theoretical primary energy consumption.
Label A+ to F
Visual classification making it easy to compare properties.
Building envelope
Insulation characteristics: roof, walls, floors and glazing with U-values.
Technical systems
Heating, hot water production, ventilation and their efficiency.
Moisture risk
Assessment of condensation and damp issues.
Recommendations
Improvement proposals with estimated label impact.
Standardised calculation (different from real consumption)
The EPC score is calculated under identical conditions for everyone, allowing an objective comparison between properties:
Indoor temperature
18°C average
Occupancy
365 days/year
Climate
Belgian standard year (KMI)
Hot water
Based on living area
Woningpas integration
Your EPC is automatically integrated into the Woningpas, the digital passport of your home which centralises all energy, technical and administrative information about your property in Flanders.
Official Document Explained
Example of a Flemish EPC certificate
Discover the key zones of the EPC and learn how to read this official document.
Official Flemish Region document
Key zones explained
1. Property identification
Full address, building type and unique certificate number for traceability.
2. Energy score
Value in kWh/(m².year) showing theoretical consumption. Here 335 kWh/m².year, corresponding to a label D on the Flemish scale.
3. Label scale A+ to F
Visualisation of where the property sits on the energy scale. The cursor shows actual performance vs. standards.
4. 2050 target
Reference to the Flemish target of 100 kWh/m².year (Label A) that all homes must reach for climate neutrality.
5. Envelope condition
Visual assessment of each element: roof, walls, windows and floors. Coloured icons indicate the performance level.
6. Technical systems
Detail of systems: heating (type, efficiency), domestic hot water, ventilation and renewables.
7. Priority recommendations
List of suggested works with estimated impact on the score. Helps plan renovations by priority.
Tip: Keep your invoices and premium statements. Without proof, the certifying body will apply default values that may result in penalties.
EPC label scale
kWh/m².year
A+
A
B
C
D
E
F
< 0
0 – 100
100 – 200
200 – 300
300 – 400
400 – 500
> 500
D
Flemish average : ~390 kWh/m².yr
A
2050 target : 100 kWh/m².yr
Renovation obligations
Renovatieplicht: buying a property with label E/F = mandatory renovation
In force :
E
F
→
D
within 5 years
D
2023
Label E/F → D within 5 years
C
2028
Tightened requirement
B
2035
Houses: B / Apartments : C
A
2045
All dwellings
2050 target: all dwellings at label A (100 kWh/m².year)
Mijn VerbouwPremie
A single grant for the energy renovation of homes older than 15 years
Roof insulation
up to 50%
Wall insulation
up to 50%
Floor insulation
up to 50%
HR glazing
up to 50%
Heat pump
up to 50%
Solar water heater
up to 50%
EPC certificate validity
Validity rules and when to renew your certificate.
Standard duration
10 years
From the date of issue.
Sale
Label required
Since 2022, post-2019 EPC with label is mandatory.
Rental
Older accepted
Certificates without label are valid if < 10 years old.
When to renew?
EPC common areas
Mandatory update if:
How the visit works
The Type A energy expert performs a mandatory site visit to issue the EPC certificate.
Envelope inspection
Roof, walls, floors and windows to assess insulation.
Systems survey
Heating, hot water, ventilation and solar panels.
Evidence analysis
Invoices, premium attestations, technical sheets.
Photo documentation
Photos for VEKA validation.
No destructive testing
The expert relies only on what is visible or documented. Without proof, unfavourable default values apply = label F.
Accepted evidence
Responsibilities of each party
Each actor has specific obligations regarding the EPC certificate.
Owner-seller
Owner-landlord
Property manager (syndic)
Notary
Boiler room (stookruimte): The property manager must guarantee access to the collective boiler room. Without inspection of centralised systems, the certificate is incomplete.
Advertising obligations
Energy information must appear in every property advertisement.
Requirements
Compliant example
House for sale - Gent Beautiful character home, 4 bedrooms...
B
156 kWh/m².year EPC available
Forbidden mentions
The mentions “EPC in progress”, “EPC requested” or “aangevraagd” are not allowed. The certificate must be issued before any publication.
Fines and sanctions
Failure to comply with EPC obligations is sanctioned with administrative fines imposed by VEKA.
No EPC at sale
500 € à 5.000 €
Administrative fine for the seller listing a property without a valid EPC.
No EPC at rental
250 € à 5.000 €
Fine for the landlord renting out a property without providing an EPC copy to the tenant.
Non-compliant advertising
250 € à 5.000 €
Property ads without the energy label and the kWh/m².year score.
No EPC for common areas
500 € à 5.000 €
Fine for co-ownerships without a valid EPC Gemeenschappelijke Delen (GD).
Other sanctionable infractions
Original not handed to buyer
The seller must transmit the original EPC at the deed of sale
Expired or invalid EPC
An EPC older than 10 years or pre-2019 without label is no longer valid for a sale
Incorrect data
Knowingly providing wrong information to the certifier is sanctionable
Supervision by VEKA
The Vlaams Energie- en Klimaatagentschap (VEKA) oversees compliance with EPC regulations. Notaries must report any transaction without a compliant certificate.
Fines are cumulative: a single transaction can trigger multiple sanctions (no EPC + non-compliant ad + failure to deliver).
Frequently asked questions
Answers to common questions about the EPC certificate in Flanders.
What is the difference between PEB and EPC?
PEB is used in Wallonia and Brussels, EPC (Energieprestatiecertificaat) is the Flemish equivalent. Both assess energy performance using distinct regional methodologies.
Is my old EPC without label still valid?
For a sale: since 2022, only post-2019 EPCs with label (A+ to F) are accepted. For a rental: older certificates without label remain valid if less than 10 years old.
What happens without proof of insulation?
The expert applies unfavourable default values. Without documented proof (invoices, attestations) this can result in label F, even if your property is properly insulated.
Who pays for the common areas EPC?
The EPC Gemeenschappelijke Delen is paid by the co-ownership. The property manager (syndic) is responsible for having it issued for any building of 2 or more units.
Can I sell without an EPC if the buyer agrees?
No. The EPC is a legal obligation. The notary must report any transaction without a compliant certificate to VEKA. Automatic fines apply.
How long does an expert visit take?
Generally 45 minutes to 1h30 for a single-family home. The expert inspects the building envelope and all technical systems.
How can I improve my EPC label?
Priority: roof insulation, façade insulation, window replacement (double/triple glazing), efficient heating system. Have a new certificate issued after the works.
Is the EPC integrated into the Woningpas?
Yes, in Flanders the EPC is automatically integrated into the Woningpas, the digital passport of the home.
Need an EPC certificate in Flanders?
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