Performance énergétique
EPC certificate mandatory to sell in Brussels: what changed in 2026
Since March 2026, you cannot sell a Brussels home without a valid EPC. Here is the obligation, its real impact on price, and what to prepare before you list.
Since 19 March 2026, you cannot sell a home in Brussels without a valid EPC. The score must appear in the listing and in the deed. And a poor EPC, class E or F, can push the sale price down by up to 25%.
The EPC is mandatory at every sale
The energy performance certificate, the EPC (PEB in French), rates your home from A (very efficient) to G (energy-hungry). In Brussels it is mandatory for every sale and rental. The score must appear in the listing, then in the preliminary contract and the notarial deed.
The certificate is issued by an accredited assessor and stays valid for ten years, unless works change the property's performance. Budget a few hundred euros depending on the size and type of home.
What changed in 2026
The reform from the ordinance of 7 March 2024 tightens the rules. The obligation to hold a valid EPC widens, and above all, Brussels sets a renovation trajectory over time: all homes must reach at least class E by 2033, then aim for class C by around 2045.
In other words, the EPC is no longer a box to tick on sale day. It becomes a core driver of value, because the buyer now knows a poorly rated home will force them to renovate.
Brussels and Flanders: two different logics
If you have sold or bought in Flanders, do not copy the rules across. The two regions do not work the same way.
| Region | At sale | Renovation obligation |
|---|---|---|
| Brussels | Valid EPC, score in the listing and the deed | Gradual trajectory: class E by 2033, class C by around 2045 |
| Flanders |