Frequently asked questions — Property certifications
Everything you need to know about the PEB certificate, electrical inspection and asbestos inventory in Brussels.
The PEB certificate
What is a PEB certificate?
The PEB certificate (Energy Performance of Buildings) is an official document that rates the theoretical energy consumption of a home from A++ (very efficient, < 45 kWh/m²/year) to G (very energy-intensive, > 345 kWh/m²/year). It is issued after a full visit by a certifier approved by Bruxelles Environnement in Brussels, SPW Énergie in Wallonia or VEKA in Flanders, and includes quantified renovation recommendations.
When do I need a PEB certificate?
The PEB certificate is mandatory as soon as the property listing is published, for any sale or rental anywhere in Belgium. It must be presented to the buyer or tenant no later than the signing of the compromise or lease. Without it, the administrative fine reaches EUR 62,500 in Brussels (and the PEB score must also appear in the listing, with an additional sanction if it is missing).
How long is a PEB certificate valid?
A PEB certificate is valid for 10 years from its issue date. If you carry out major insulation works, replace the boiler or the windows, request a new certificate before expiry: a better score (moving from E to C, for example) noticeably increases the property's value and shortens the time to sell. The previous certificate, however, remains valid until its official expiry date.
Who can issue a PEB certificate?
Only a certifier approved by the competent regional authority is allowed: Bruxelles Environnement in Brussels, SPW Énergie in Wallonia, VEKA in Flanders. The certifier has completed an official training and passed an exam on regional regulations, and the approval is publicly verifiable in the authority's register. All Sertic experts are approved and listed in those registers.
Is a PEB certificate really mandatory?
Yes, no exception: the PEB certificate has been mandatory in Brussels since 2011, in Wallonia since 2010 and in Flanders (EPC) since 2008 for any sale or rental. Without a valid certificate, the notary blocks the authentic deed, the agency cannot publish the listing, and the fine is administrative and automatic (up to EUR 62,500 in Brussels).
How much does a PEB certificate cost in Brussels in 2026?
At Sertic, a PEB certificate in Brussels starts at EUR 175 incl. VAT for a studio, EUR 200 for a standard apartment, up to EUR 450 for a large house or villa. The price is fixed (no surprise after the visit) and includes travel, the official report and registration with Bruxelles Environnement. The full breakdown by property type is on our pricing page.
What are the penalties for selling or renting without a PEB certificate in Brussels?
The administrative fine reaches EUR 62,500 for the lack of a PEB certificate during a sale or rental in Brussels. An additional fine applies if the PEB score is missing from the listing (immoweb, agency, window display). In practice, the notary refuses to sign the authentic deed without the certificate, which is enough to block the transaction.
Does the PEB score affect the sale price?
Yes, significantly. A property rated A to C sells on average 5 to 12 % more than an equivalent property rated F or G, and finds a buyer faster. A poor PEB opens room for downward negotiation, as the buyer factors in future insulation works. Investing in renovation before the sale is often profitable. See our PEB service.
The visit
How long does the PEB certifier's visit take?
Allow 30 to 45 minutes for a studio or standard apartment, 1 hour for a detached house, and up to 1h30 for a villa or a multi-unit building. The actual duration depends mainly on how complete your technical documents are: a well-prepared file shortens the visit and improves the score's accuracy.
What should I prepare before the certifier visits?
Gather in advance: construction plans, insulation work invoices, technical sheets for the boiler, windows and insulation materials, the certificate of the most recently installed boiler. Without these proofs, the certifier applies default values prescribed by Bruxelles Environnement — typically 5 to 15 % less favourable than the property's actual performance.
Does the certifier need access to every room?
Yes, every room without exception: living spaces, bathroom, kitchen, but also cellar, attic, technical rooms and roof space. The expert inspects exterior walls, windows, roof, boiler, hot water production and ventilation. If a room remains inaccessible, the certifier records it and applies default values that penalise the final score.
What exactly does the expert check during the visit?
Six families of data: insulation of the envelope (walls, roof, floor), performance of window frames and glazing, type and efficiency of the boiler, domestic hot water production, ventilation, and presence of renewable energy (solar panels, heat pump). Everything is entered into the competent region's official software, which calculates the PEB score using a standardised method.
Pricing & payment
What is the price of a PEB certificate in Brussels?
At Sertic, the PEB price is fixed and announced before the visit: EUR 175 for a studio, EUR 200 for a standard apartment, EUR 275 for a house, EUR 350 for a large house, EUR 450 for a villa. No surcharge after the visit. An Express 24h plan (+EUR 30) and a Priority evenings/weekends plan (+EUR 75) are available. See pricing.
Which payment methods do you accept?
Bancontact, Visa, Mastercard and Apple Pay. Payment is made when the booking is placed online or upon receipt of the invoice after the visit. Real-estate agencies, notaries and architects can request 30-day invoicing when getting in touch.
Will I receive an invoice?
Yes — a compliant invoice (Belgian VAT, service description, intervention date) is emailed within 24 hours of the service. The invoice remains downloadable from your customer area as long as your account is active.
The report
How quickly will I receive my PEB certificate?
On the standard plan, the certificate is delivered within 5 working days. On the Express plan, it arrives within 24 hours of the visit. The Priority plan (evenings/weekends) also stays under 24h. The official PDF is emailed once registration is confirmed in the competent region's database, with a unique number that is publicly verifiable.
In what format will I receive the certificate?
An official PDF emailed to you. The document contains: a unique identification number registered with the competent regional authority (verifiable online in the public register), the PEB score in kWh/m²/year and the A++ to G letter, a theoretical consumption chart, and 3 to 8 quantified renovation recommendations with estimated impact in kWh saved.
Can I challenge the result of the PEB certificate?
Yes. Contact the certifier within 30 days first to provide the missing documents: insulation invoice, boiler certificate, technical sheets for windows. The certifier can reissue the certificate at no charge if the documents change the score. Without agreement, you can file a complaint with Bruxelles Environnement, which opens an audit procedure.
Electrical inspection
When is an electrical inspection mandatory?
An inspection is mandatory in 3 cases: new installation (before commissioning), major modification (extension of the panel, meter change) and property sale (for any domestic installation). The RGIE (General Regulation on Electrical Installations) of the SPF Économie distinguishes installations from before 1 October 1981 from more recent ones. See electrical inspection.
Can you sell with a non-compliant electrical report?
Yes, only for a domestic installation predating 1 October 1981. The sale proceeds at the notary, and the buyer then has 18 months from the authentic deed to bring the installation into compliance and obtain a new compliant report from an approved body. For installations after 1981, the report must be compliant before the sale.
How long does the buyer have to bring the installation into compliance?
18 months from the signing of the authentic deed, for domestic installations predating 1 October 1981 sold with a non-compliant report. After that period, the buyer faces RGIE sanctions and bears civil liability in case of an electrical incident. The new inspection must be performed by an approved body listed in the SPF Économie register.
Is an electrical inspection mandatory for a rental property?
No, not in the Brussels-Capital Region or in Wallonia in 2026. However, the landlord remains civilly and criminally responsible for the safety of the installation, and their insurer can refuse a payout in case of an electrically caused fire if no prior inspection was carried out. A voluntary inspection (EUR 150 at Sertic) covers this grey area. See pricing.
Asbestos inventory
When is an asbestos inventory mandatory in Brussels?
In Brussels, the inventory becomes mandatory before any worksite (renovation, alteration, demolition) on a building constructed before 1998 likely to contain exposed or disturbable asbestos materials. The framework is set by Bruxelles Environnement. In Flanders, the OVAM regime is stricter and already requires the inventory at sale. See asbestos inventory.
Which buildings are concerned by asbestos?
Any building constructed or renovated before 1998 (the Belgian ban date), with particular risks for buildings from the 1960s to the 1980s. Asbestos is found in fibre-cement roofs, pipe insulation, tile adhesives, joints, vinyl tiles, suspended ceilings, chimney flues and service shafts. The Bel-Étage villas of the 1960s in Brussels are particularly affected.
What should I do if asbestos is detected?
The report classifies each material into 3 risk levels: low (annual visual monitoring), medium (encapsulation or scheduled removal), high (immediate mandatory removal by a company approved by Bruxelles Environnement). Never remove yourself: sanding, drilling or breaking asbestos-containing material releases carcinogenic fibres, and unauthorised removal is criminally punishable.
Will an asbestos inventory soon become mandatory for a sale in Brussels?
In 2026, the inventory in Brussels remains tied to worksites (works, alterations, demolitions), not to sales. Flanders has been imposing the inventory at sale since 2022 via OVAM, and a Brussels alignment is regularly mentioned by Bruxelles Environnement. For transactions on pre-1998 properties, anticipating the inventory has become a selling argument. See asbestos pricing.