Energy Assessors Accredited by Brussels Environment

EPC Certificate in Brussels

To sell or rent out a property in Brussels, a valid EPC certificate is mandatory as soon as the property is placed on the market. Certinergie, which issues approximately 1 in 5 EPC certificates in Brussels, visits your property, takes your supporting documents into account and sends you your certificate within 48 hours. Valid for 10 years, with prices starting from €165 including VAT.

Mandatory on-site inspection
Valid for 10 years
Supporting documents taken into account
Training centre for energy assessors

Order my EPC certificate 02 880 21 71

Updated on October 18, 2026 · Sources: Brussels Environment, Renolution, Belgian Official Gazette

In Brussels — get your energy performance certificate with Certinergie, Belgium’s leading certification provider.

What changes in 2026?

Since 1 June 2025

No new oil-fired boilers, including replacements (except where an exemption applies). Find out more

Renolution grants suspended

Since August 2024. Interest-free loans have been announced; the ECORENO loan remains available. View financial support

1 July 2028

Reform: new calculation method, single certificate, EPC expert. View the reform

2033

Certificate mandatory for all homes and phase-out of classes F and G (max. 275 kWh/m²/year). View the timeline

When is an EPC certificate required in Brussels?

The EPC certificate must be available as soon as the property is placed on the market, therefore before the transaction is concluded.

Transactions requiring a certificate

Sale
Private sale (including partial sales), compulsory or voluntary public sale, exchange
Rental
Any new rental or renewal of a lease for an individual dwelling
Lease assignment
Transfer of the lease to a new tenant
Property leasing
Rights in rem
Transfer or creation of rights in rem for consideration (bare ownership, long lease)

No certificate required

Expropriation
Inheritance
Easements
Partition
Mortgage
Marriage contract
Donation

If you are unsure about the type of deed, contact your notary.

Important point

The buyer’s intentions (demolition, change of use) make no difference: if the dwelling falls within the scope of the rules, a certificate is mandatory. Failure to comply with the obligations (advertising, providing a copy, disclosures in the deed) may result in criminal penalties.

Scope of application

Is my property subject to EPC requirements?

A property is covered if it forms an ‘EPC unit’ designated as an ‘individual dwelling’: a set of rooms within the same protected volume, designed to be used separately.

The 4 cumulative criteria for an individual dwelling

Floor area ≥ 18 m²

Usable floor area (‘carpet area’) of at least 18 m²

Private toilet

Or a connection point in a private room.

Private bathroom or shower

Or a plumbing connection point.

Private kitchen

With a sink and cooking facilities (electrical connections or gas).

Privacy must be ensured by doors fitted with functioning locks. Ageing, uninhabitable conditions or the absence of heating do not exempt a property from certification: default values are then applied.

Examples of properties outside the scope

17 m² studio
Area below 18 m² (criterion no. 1)
Apartment with a shared toilet on the landing
No private toilet (criterion no. 2)
Dwelling with a shared bathroom without a lock
Privacy not ensured (criterion no. 3)
20 m² student room with a shared kitchen
No private kitchen (criterion no. 4)
Partially missing façade, roof missing
No definable protected volume
Inaccessible property (bricked-up openings or sealed off)
Site visit impossible
Dwelling from which all pipes have been removed
No minimum connections

Special cases : a property sold as a weathertight shell (CASCO) with the minimum connections is considered an individual dwelling. The same applies to a house from which the fitted kitchen has been removed, provided the connections remain in place.

Certificate contents

What does the Brussels EPC certificate contain?

The EPC certificate allows homes to be compared using a standardised calculation that is independent of occupants’ behaviour.

Energy rating

From A (very energy-efficient) to G (very energy-intensive), with subcategories (such as C+ or C-).

Theoretical energy consumption

Expressed as primary energy in kWh/m²/year, calculated under standardised conditions.

CO₂ emissions

Estimate of annual emissions associated with energy consumption.

Building envelope

Insulation of roofs, walls and floors, and glazing performance.

Technical systems

Heating, domestic hot water, ventilation and renewable energy.

Recommendations

Recommended works to improve energy performance and meet regional targets.

Energy rating scale in Brussels

Primary energy consumption in kWh/m²/year

≤ 45

46 – 95 · new: average B+ (2016-2024)

96 – 150 · long-term objective

151 – 210

211 – 275
Brussels average: 254

276 – 345 · banned in 2033

> 345 · banned in 2033

Average for homes certified in 2024: 254 kWh/m²/year, compared with 317 in 2011. Around 28.5% of certificates are rated G (source: Brussels Environment, 2024 data).

Actual consumption ≠ consumption shown on the certificate

The calculation assumes an average temperature of 18°C, occupancy 365 days a year, average weather conditions and hot water consumption based on the size of the home. This is intentional: the EPC compares buildings, not habits.

Official document explained

Understanding your Brussels EPC certificate

Each section of the official certificate contains essential information. Learn how to read and interpret this document to better showcase your property’s value.

Official document of the Brussels-Capital Region

Key sections of the certificate

1. Number and validity

Unique EPC certificate number and expiry date. The certificate is valid for 10 years but can be updated after energy renovation work.

2. Property details

Full address, property type (single-family house, apartment) and gross floor area in m². This section precisely identifies the certified EPC unit and its validity (10 years).

3. Photograph of the property

An exterior photograph of the building.

4. Energy rating A to G

The official Brussels energy rating scale. From A (≤45 kWh/m²/year), very energy-efficient, to G (>345 kWh/m²/year), very energy-intensive. The certificate also shows the 2020 energy performance requirement for a new home (class A).

5. Renewable energy

Indicates whether renewable energy systems are present: photovoltaic panels (PAC), combined heat and power (COGEN) and solar thermal systems. These installations reduce primary energy consumption.

6. CO₂ emissions

The property’s annual carbon footprint in kg CO₂/m²/year. This environmental measure indicates the property’s climate impact, from ‘low’ to ‘high’ emissions.

7. Primary energy consumption

Expressed in kWh/m²/year (specific) and kWh/year (total). This is the theoretical consumption calculated under standardised conditions, allowing objective comparisons between properties.

8. Gross floor area and accredited energy assessor

Gross floor area is the total area of the building measured using the exterior dimensions of its walls, including all covered spaces, whether habitable or not (cellars, attics, corridors, etc.).

The contact details of the accredited energy assessor (existing building) or EPC adviser (new build). Their signature is mandatory and confirms that the specific procedure has been followed.

How the inspection works and which documents to prepare

How EPC certification works

The energy assessor must visit the home to record all data that affect its energy performance.

Visual inspection

Roof type
Number of façades
Type of window frames and glazing

Verification using acceptable evidence

Wall insulation: type and thickness of insulation
Boiler efficiency
Glazing performance

How documents affect the certificate rating

Without documents

Unfavourable default values

EPC F

With documents

Actual performance data taken into account

EPC C-

Documents to gather: the assessor will check what is relevant

General information

Deed of sale
Cadastral extract
Planning permission
Deed of co-ownership

Renovation work

Detailed invoices
Technical specifications for materials
Specifications and plans
Proof of grants
Post-intervention file

Heating and domestic hot water

Periodic EPC inspection certificate
EPC commissioning certificate
EPC diagnostic report
Logbook

Renewable energy

Certificate of conformity (combined heat and power, solar PV)
Green certificates

Other

Energy audit
Airtightness test (blower door)
Construction site photos

Destructive inspection

Without acceptable evidence, a destructive inspection (a small drill hole to check the insulation) may be carried out with the owner’s written consent.

Order my EPC certificate in Brussels

Specific to Brussels

EPC heating: certificates and new rules

The energy assessor uses certificates issued under the EPC Heating regulations to describe your installation.

Periodic inspection

Every year for oil-fired boilers, every 2 years for gas boilers.

EPC commissioning

Following replacement or commissioning of a boiler

EPC diagnosis

Every 5 years for type 2 systems

Date	Rule	Status
1 September 2021	Coal-fired heating appliances no longer permitted	IN FORCE
1 January 2025	New or equivalent buildings: no more gas or oil-fired boilers (permit applications submitted from that date)	IN FORCE
1 June 2025	No new oil-fired boilers, including replacements, except where an exemption applies. Existing boilers may continue operating if they are maintained and inspected.	IN FORCE
1 January 2030	Major renovations: gas boilers no longer permitted (permit applications submitted from that date)	Announced

Co-owned buildings

Property managers and co-owners: prepare the building’s EPC file

In a co-owned building, each apartment’s rating depends on shared building data. A complete file avoids the use of default values.

Access to the boiler room is mandatory

Without access to the boiler room (or its documents), the energy assessor cannot record the communal heating system, which significantly worsens the rating.

No boiler room access or documents
G

With a complete file
D

The reference EPC file

Deed of co-ownership with typical floor plans
Invoices for insulation (walls, roof, cellars)
Logbook for communal heating and domestic hot water
Periodic inspection and EPC commissioning certificates
Technical specifications (boiler, burner)
Minutes of general meetings concerning works

From 1 July 2028

A single EPC expert for the co-owned building

Under the reform, the association of co-owners will have to appoint an EPC expert. The expert will coordinate the building’s technical data, identify the EPC units and shared elements, issue any missing certificates and prepare a summary report of recommended works.

Good to know: an apartment may meet the 2033 target even if the building as a whole does not. Its owner must nevertheless contribute to the communal works agreed by the association of co-owners.

Request a co-ownership quotation Our services for property managers

EPC advertising requirements in Brussels

The owner or intermediary must:

clearly state the energy rating and CO₂ emissions in all advertising (online, window displays, posters, printed listings);
provide a copy of the certificate to any prospective buyer or tenant who requests it.

Tip : order your EPC before publishing the property listing online.

Validity of the EPC certificate

10 years, provided the home’s energy characteristics have not changed.

After energy renovation work, the certificate no longer reflects the property accurately: a new certificate is recommended.
An updated certificate helps showcase the property when selling or renting.

CoBrACE reform

EPC reform in Brussels: the official timeline

The ordinance of 7 March 2024 and the decrees of 3 July 2025 reform EPC certification. A ministerial decree of 19 February 2026 (Belgian Official Gazette of 9 March 2026) sets their entry into force on 1 July 2028. Until then, certificates will continue to be issued using the current method.

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2024 CoBrACE ordinance (7 March)
.

2025 Implementing decrees (3 July) · oil boiler ban (1 June)
.

1/7/2028 New method, single certificate, EPC expert
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2033 Certificate for all · max. 275 kWh/m²/year
.

2040 Public housing: max. 150
.

2045–2048 All homes: max. 150 (date to be set)

Owners’ obligations

Certificate mandatory for all : anyone holding a right in rem over a home will need to have a valid certificate by 1 July 2033 at the latest, even without a sale or rental.
Required performance target : a maximum of 275 kWh/m²/year in 2033, followed by 150 kWh/m²/year.
Penalties : administrative fines are provided for non-compliance.
Exemptions may be granted for technical, functional, economic or heritage reasons, subject to application before the deadline.

What changes on 1 July 2028?

Single calculation method : the electricity factor falls from 2.5 to 1.9, with updated climate data, removal of fictitious cooling and new measurement rules.
Single certificate for all building types, with a summary report for co-owned buildings.
EPC expert : replaces energy assessors and EPC advisers.
No automatic reclassification: only new certificates follow the new method.

A better rating after 2028 does not remove the need for renovation: a home can change class without meeting the 2033 thresholds. Renovation often takes 12 to 24 months, so it is best to plan ahead.

Renovation support and ways to improve your home

Financial support in 2026

Renolution grants : suspended since 16 August 2024. The government has announced plans to replace them with interest-free loans, although the terms have yet to be confirmed.
ECORENO loan (Housing Fund): relaunched on 1 January 2026 at preferential rates for insulation, windows and heating.
6% VAT for renovations to homes over 10 years old.
Municipal grants : vary depending on the municipality.
Free advice : Homegrade.

Where should you start renovating?

Roof insulation
Wall insulation
Floor insulation
Heating replacement (heat pump, high-efficiency boiler)
Energy-efficient windows and glazing

The actual impact depends on your home: an audit or personalised advice can help quantify the expected savings.

Is your property rated F or G? With PEB Boost, a qualified energy assessor reviews your EPC with you by video call, covering missing supporting documents, quick improvements and the order of works for your project. Discover PEB Boost

Why choose Certinergie in Brussels?

A trusted partner for your energy certification

≈ 20% of Brussels EPC certificates

A leading provider of energy certification in Brussels.

Recognised training centre

Certinergie trains energy assessors at a training centre recognised by Brussels Environment. Our teams closely follow the reform.

Experience with co-owned buildings

Support for property managers: reference files, coordination of certificates and preparation for the reform.

Reliable reports

We use all acceptable supporting documents to ensure your property’s energy performance is assessed as accurately as possible.

Fast service

On-site visit within 48 hours, prompt certificate delivery and an online customer portal.

215,000+
certificates issued

Since 2011 across all three regions. Trusted by notaries and estate agencies.

Do you also own a property in another region? EPC certificate Wallonia · EPC Flanders · EPC timeline for all 3 regions

Frequently asked questions about the EPC certificate in Brussels

When do I need an EPC certificate?

The EPC certificate must be available as soon as the property is placed on the market, i.e. before the sale or lease is concluded. To avoid publishing a non-compliant property listing, it is best to order the certificate before advertising the property online.

Will my current EPC certificate remain valid after the 2028 reform?

A Brussels EPC certificate is valid for 10 years. Until 1 July 2028, certificates are issued using the current method. The new method only applies to newly issued certificates: existing certificates are not automatically reclassified.

Will I need an EPC certificate even if I am not selling or renting?

Yes, eventually. The reform requires anyone holding a right in rem over a dwelling to have a valid EPC certificate, even without a transaction. The provisions enter into force on 1 July 2028, with a five-year period, meaning by 1 July 2033 at the latest.

What are the EPC targets in Brussels?

All homes must reach a maximum primary energy consumption of 275 kWh/m²/year in 2033 (phasing out classes F and G), and 150 kWh/m²/year in the longer term (class C), on a date yet to be set by the government. Homes owned by public property operators must reach 150 kWh/m²/year by 2040.

How many EPC certificates do I need?

Every individual residential EPC unit involved in a transaction must have its own certificate. A building containing several EPC units therefore requires one certificate per unit.

Is an EPC certificate required if there is no heating?

No. The partial or complete absence of heating does not exclude a property from the scope of certification. Default values are then used.

Are renovation grants still available in Brussels?

Renolution grants have been suspended since 16 August 2024. The government has announced plans to replace them with interest-free loans, although the terms have yet to be specified. The ECORENO loan, the 6% VAT rate and some municipal grants remain available.

How can I improve my certificate rating?

Gather as many documents as possible before the visit: invoices, technical specifications, EPC heating certificates and proof of grants. Without supporting evidence, the assessor must apply unfavourable default values.

Get your EPC certificate in Brussels

Accredited energy assessors, an on-site visit within 48 hours and a certificate compliant with Brussels regulations.

Order my EPC 02 880 21 71