{"type":"document","data":{"complementaryZone":{"flexComponents":[{"cards":[{"cardSize":"small","cardType":"product","componentType":"productCard","image":{"extension":"jpg","original":"https://assets.ing.com/m/e692ddb1848e8e3/original/making-your-home-sustainable-where-should-you-start-1920.jpg","transformBaseUrl":"https://assets.ing.com/transform/239180b4-c34f-4f96-8a9d-8e302422fa8b/making-your-home-sustainable-where-should-you-start-1920","type":"image","width":1920},"intro":"Thanks to the Renovation Simulator, you will have concrete ideas for making your home more sustainable.","link":{"url":"/en/individuals/borrowing/calculate-improve-epc"},"title":"Calculate and improve your EPC"},{"body":"Renovation made easy, from budget to EPC","cardSize":"medium","cardType":"product","checkMarkList":["Home advisors, decrypting your EPC","Interesting partner deals","Improve your EPC and get a lower rate"],"componentType":"productCard","image":{"extension":"jpg","original":"https://assets.ing.com/m/674c4ccc6e30943e/original/batibouw_Omar_1920x1080_zoom.jpg","transformBaseUrl":"https://assets.ing.com/transform/43fd6560-560b-4110-856b-ad33a107867a/batibouw_Omar_1920x1080_zoom","type":"image","width":1920},"intro":"Your energy-saving renovation toolkit","link":{"url":"/en/individuals/borrowing/home/one-stop-shop-renovation/your-energy-renovation-toolkit"},"title":"Renovating ?"},{"cardSize":"small","cardType":"product","componentType":"productCard","image":{"extension":"jpg","original":"https://assets.ing.com/m/7410d91fea92bc64/original/cars-on-street-against-sky.jpg","transformBaseUrl":"https://assets.ing.com/transform/aada17bb-f1ff-4f3d-a07d-0544141beb83/cars-on-street-against-sky","type":"image","width":4883},"intro":"Discounts on heat pumps, home batteries, free solar panels and more!","link":{"url":"/en/individuals/borrowing/home/renovation-partner-offer"},"title":"Discover our partner offer for renovation"}],"componentType":"cards"}]},"contentType":"onecms:editorialPage","flexPageMetadata":{"afmBanner":false,"description":"A page describing the EPC-rules per region for Belgium.","robotInstruction":{"noFollow":false,"noIndex":false}},"flexZone":{"flexComponents":[{"actionAccordionList":[{"icon":{"altTextNL":"\"\"","extension":"svg","original":"https://assets.ing.com/m/10b8430218edad32/original/Functionalities-Questionmark_Outline.svg","transformBaseUrl":"https://assets.ing.com/transform/a8becf32-5cde-492a-ad80-05d6a2182220/Functionalities-Questionmark_Outline","type":"image","width":32},"paragraphs":[{"componentType":"paragraph","richBody":{"value":"<p><span><span><span><span lang=\"en-BE\" dir=\"ltr\"><span><span>EPC stands for <strong>“energy performance certificate”</strong>. It is a document stating <strong>how energy-efficient your home is.</strong> If you are buying or selling a house, an EPC is mandatory. This document helps you estimate how well or poorly a building is insulated, and whether to expect a large or small energy bill. The EPC-score also has a big impact on the value of your home.</span></span></span> </span></span></span></p>"}}],"title":{"value":"<p><strong>What is EPC? </strong></p>"}},{"icon":{"altTextNL":"\"\"","extension":"svg","original":"https://assets.ing.com/m/7cea5720a6c66949/original/Functionalities-Zoom_In_Outline.svg","transformBaseUrl":"https://assets.ing.com/transform/f8875363-b782-48cf-b467-1aa2e6d334a6/Functionalities-Zoom_In_Outline","type":"image","width":32},"paragraphs":[{"alignedImage":{"position":"bottom","altTextEN":"An overview of the EPC rules per region in Belgium","altTextFR":"Un aperçu des règles PEB par région en Belgique","altTextNL":"Een overzicht van de EPC-regels per regio in België","extension":"png","original":"https://assets.ing.com/m/2ed0d96f3e83f216/original/EPC-per-region.png","transformBaseUrl":"https://assets.ing.com/transform/d2ec4f63-e154-4de2-9e91-5cba5ffa9a64/EPC-per-region"},"componentType":"paragraph","richBody":{"value":"<ul><li><span lang=\"en-BE\" dir=\"ltr\">An</span> <span lang=\"en-BE\" dir=\"ltr\"><strong>energy rating.</strong> </span><span lang=\"en-BE\" dir=\"ltr\">This measurement unit refers to the <strong>annual energy consumption required for heating, hot water, ventilation and cooling. </strong>The lower the score, the better. A score below 0 means that the home produces more energy than it uses.</span> </li><li><span lang=\"en-BE\" dir=\"ltr\">An</span> <span lang=\"en-BE\" dir=\"ltr\"><strong>energy label.</strong> The label is a simplified graphic that represents the energy rating. As an example, in the Flemish Region, a C-Label indicates energy consumption of between 200 and 300 kWh/m2 per year.</span> <span lang=\"en-BE\" dir=\"ltr\">A+ is the best rating in Flanders; F is the poorest. Note: both the Walloon Region and the Brussels Capital Region use different ratings for their energy labels.</span> </li><li><strong><span lang=\"en-BE\" dir=\"ltr\">Details on the energy performance and</span> <span lang=\"en-BE\" dir=\"ltr\">energy loss areas</span></strong> <span lang=\"en-BE\" dir=\"ltr\">(for example, along the roof, walls, windows, floors, doors, gates and through the heating system).</span> </li><li><strong><span lang=\"en-BE\" dir=\"ltr\">Recommendations</span> </strong><span lang=\"en-BE\" dir=\"ltr\"><strong>by energy experts</strong> and often a <strong>cost estimate</strong> of the modifications recommended.</span> </li></ul><p><span lang=\"en-BE\" dir=\"ltr\">Please note that labels and energy ratings are different for Flanders, Wallonia and Brussels-Capital region.</span> </p>"}}],"title":{"value":"<p><strong>What does an EPC show? </strong></p>"}},{"icon":{"altTextNL":"\"\"","extension":"svg","original":"https://assets.ing.com/m/145d0eb66bbdbc37/original/Multimedia-Video_Quality_Outline.svg","transformBaseUrl":"https://assets.ing.com/transform/3595e886-8fed-4e09-9b3c-a3bfb424a8bc/Multimedia-Video_Quality_Outline","type":"image","width":32},"paragraphs":[{"componentType":"paragraph","richBody":{"value":"<ul><li><strong><span lang=\"en-BE\" dir=\"ltr\">The</span> <span lang=\"en-BE\" dir=\"ltr\">lower the energy rating</span> <span lang=\"en-BE\" dir=\"ltr\">or energy label, the</span> <span lang=\"en-BE\" dir=\"ltr\">less energy</span> </strong><span lang=\"en-BE\" dir=\"ltr\"><strong>you are consuming for heating/cooling the home and for the supply of hot water. </strong>A better rating </span><span lang=\"en-BE\" dir=\"ltr\">often</span><span lang=\"en-BE\" dir=\"ltr\"> means a lower energy bill. Insulation is one of the best ways to achieve a lower rating and to make energy savings. This has not only environmental benefits, but also economic ones.</span> </li><li><strong><span lang=\"en-BE\" dir=\"ltr\">The </span><span lang=\"en-BE\" dir=\"ltr\"><strong>li</strong>ving comfort</span> </strong><span lang=\"en-BE\" dir=\"ltr\">of a home is higher with a low score. The right indoor climate means fewer chills in the winter and less sweating in the summer.</span> </li><li><strong><span lang=\"en-BE\" dir=\"ltr\">Your home</span> <span lang=\"en-BE\" dir=\"ltr\">increases in value</span></strong><span lang=\"en-BE\" dir=\"ltr\"><strong>.</strong> </span><a href=\"https://assets.vlaanderen.be/image/upload/v1665498249/Onderzoek_KUL_-_Het_effect_van_het_EPC_en_energetische_kenmerken_op_de_verkoopprijs_van_woningen_in_Vlaanderen_rsiyul.pdf\">Research conducted by KU Leuven</a><span lang=\"en-BE\" dir=\"ltr\"> </span><span lang=\"en-BE\" dir=\"ltr\">shows that houses with an EPC-score of <strong>between</strong></span><strong> <span lang=\"en-BE\" dir=\"ltr\">100 and 199</span></strong> <span lang=\"en-BE\" dir=\"ltr\">have, on average,</span> <strong><span lang=\"en-BE\" dir=\"ltr\">10.9% higher sale prices</span></strong> <span lang=\"en-BE\" dir=\"ltr\">than comparable houses with EPC ratings of between 400 and 499. <strong>These houses also</strong></span><strong> <span lang=\"en-BE\" dir=\"ltr\">sold 25% faster</span></strong> <span lang=\"en-BE\" dir=\"ltr\">on average. For flats, the impact on price is less pronounced (+3.4%) and the effect on selling time was similarly limited.</span> </li><li><span lang=\"en-BE\" dir=\"ltr\">Because <strong>it is ‘a must’</strong></span><span lang=\"en-BE\" dir=\"ltr\">. All homes in the Flemish Region and the Brussels Capital Region must achieve an</span> <strong><span lang=\"en-BE\" dir=\"ltr\">EPC-score of no more than 100</span></strong> <span lang=\"en-BE\" dir=\"ltr\">(= an A label in Flanders) by 2050. In the Walloon Region the requirement is a score of 85. The requirement to make all homes more energy-efficient is not optional. If, after inspection, a home is found to be non-compliant, it could be declared unfit or uninhabitable. Currently, 3.5 million Belgian homes are not in compliance.</span> </li></ul>"}}],"title":{"value":"<p><strong>Why is a low rating so important? </strong></p>"}},{"icon":{"altTextNL":"\"\"","extension":"svg","original":"https://assets.ing.com/m/6c2465a2e1603f5f/original/Feedback-Light_Bulb_Outline.svg","transformBaseUrl":"https://assets.ing.com/transform/e2274273-96dc-48a1-9c2c-17f9311aed5e/Feedback-Light_Bulb_Outline","type":"image","width":32},"paragraphs":[{"componentType":"paragraph","richBody":{"value":"<ul><li><span lang=\"en-BE\" dir=\"ltr\"><strong>As of 2009</strong>, there has been <strong>a phased obligation to submit an EPC certificate for every real estate transaction</strong> (sale, rental, etc.). Otherwise, the property cannot be rented or sold.</span></li><li><span lang=\"en-BE\" dir=\"ltr\"><strong>As of 2025</strong>, a (more flexible) legal renovation obligation has been in force: <strong>anyone who buys a home with an E or F label is obliged to achieve at least level D within six years.</strong> This must then be proven again by means of a new valid EPC certificate.</span></li><li><span lang=\"en-BE\" dir=\"ltr\"><strong>From 2030, properties that are rented out will have to meet minimum EPC energy standards</strong> (depending on the type of property) and these standards will gradually be tightened. (e.g. properties with an E or F label will no longer be allowed to be rented out).</span></li></ul>"},"title":"Flanders"},{"alignedImage":{"position":"bottom","extension":"png","original":"https://assets.ing.com/m/fbc8bddeb7bdf3e/original/EPC_Table_Wallonia_EN.png","transformBaseUrl":"https://assets.ing.com/transform/da7d570c-36b2-45fd-8f29-f2fa259d1546/EPC_Table_Wallonia_EN"},"componentType":"paragraph","richBody":{"value":"<ul><li><span><span><span><span lang=\"en-BE\" dir=\"ltr\"><span><span><span>The Walloon Region does not (yet) have a legal renovation obligation, but here also there is still <strong>a legal obligation to present a certified EPC certificate for every real estate transaction</strong> (sale, rental, etc.).</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></li><li><span><span><span><span lang=\"en-BE\" dir=\"ltr\"><span><span><span>In 2023, the Walloon Region launched its PACE plan (= <strong>Plan Air Climat Energie</strong>). Here are some of the key objectives:</span></span></span></span></span></span></span><ul><li><span><span><span><span lang=\"en-BE\" dir=\"ltr\"><span><span><span><strong>From 2028, every homeowner will have to have a valid EPC certificate</strong> (i.e. not just for real estate transactions)</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></li><li><span><span><span><span lang=\"en-BE\" dir=\"ltr\"><span><span><span><strong>Phased renovation targets are mandatory</strong> and vary depending on factors such as whether the property is for sale or rent, and whether it has existing or new owners. </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></li><li><span><span><span><span lang=\"en-BE\" dir=\"ltr\"><span><span><span><strong>Rental properties must first meet with the stricter EPC standards. </strong>Owners are given some extra time, with the first deadlines set for 2031.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></li></ul></li></ul><p><strong><span><span><span><span lang=\"en-BE\" dir=\"ltr\"><span><span><span>Overview of the phased EPC-targets in Wallonia:</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></strong></p>"},"title":"Wallonia"},{"componentType":"paragraph","richBody":{"value":"<ul><li><span><span><span><span lang=\"EN-GB\" dir=\"ltr\"><span><span>The Brussels-Capital Region has also outlined an <strong>ambitious phased renovation strategy (= ‘Renolution plan’).</strong> Here are some key objectives:</span></span></span></span></span></span><ul><li><span><span><span><span lang=\"EN-GB\" dir=\"ltr\"><span><span><strong>From 2030/2031, every homeowner must have a certified EPC certificate! </strong>(i.e., not only for real estate transactions)</span></span></span></span></span></span></li><li><span><span><span><span lang=\"EN-GB\" dir=\"ltr\"><span><span><strong>Phased renovation objectives without distinction between owner/renter,</strong> with renovation improvements to the home every 5 years, starting in 2030. •    </span></span></span></span></span></span></li></ul></li><li><span><span><span><span lang=\"EN-GB\" dir=\"ltr\"><span><span>If these targets are not met, <strong>homeowners will automatically receive a financial penalty.</strong></span></span></span></span></span></span></li></ul><table style=\"width:214px\"><caption>Overview of the phased EPC targets in Brussels</caption><thead><tr><th scope=\"col\" style=\"text-align: center; vertical-align: middle;\">As of</th><th scope=\"col\" style=\"width: 130px; text-align: center; vertical-align: middle;\">Min. label/target</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><th scope=\"row\" style=\"text-align: center; vertical-align: middle;\">2033</th><td style=\"text-align:center; vertical-align:middle; width:130px\">E</td></tr><tr><th scope=\"row\" style=\"text-align: center; vertical-align: middle;\">2043</th><td style=\"text-align:center; vertical-align:middle; width:130px\">D</td></tr><tr><th scope=\"row\" style=\"text-align: center; vertical-align: middle;\">2050</th><td style=\"text-align:center; vertical-align:middle; width:130px\">C</td></tr></tbody></table><p> </p>"},"title":"Brussels"}],"title":{"value":"<p><strong>What are the obligations per region? </strong></p>"}},{"icon":{"altTextNL":"\"\"","extension":"svg","original":"https://assets.ing.com/m/6c368d3243c21e12/original/Savings_goals-Tools_Outline.svg","transformBaseUrl":"https://assets.ing.com/transform/eb3d520a-f5ff-41a7-8cef-dfac9e47ec8e/Savings_goals-Tools_Outline","type":"image","width":32},"paragraphs":[{"componentType":"paragraph","richBody":{"value":"<p><span><span><span><span lang=\"en-BE\" dir=\"ltr\"><span>You can simply simulate the energy score of your home via our </span></span><a href=\"https://www.ing.be/en/individuals/borrowing/calculate-improve-epc\"><span>Renovation Simulator</span></a><span lang=\"en-BE\" dir=\"ltr\"><span>. But not only that: </span></span></span></span></span></p><ul><li><span><span><span><span><span><span lang=\"en-BE\" dir=\"ltr\">It simulates the energy score of your home. </span></span></span></span></span></span></li></ul><ul><li><span><span><span><span><span><span lang=\"en-BE\" dir=\"ltr\">You get a recommendation of renovation works to do and in which order. </span></span></span></span></span></span></li></ul><ul><li><span><span><span><span><span><span lang=\"en-BE\" dir=\"ltr\">It provides a handy summary document, including referrals to potential subsidies. </span></span></span></span></span></span></li></ul>"}}],"title":{"value":"<p><strong>What can you do to achieve a lower EPC rating? </strong></p>"}}],"componentType":"actionAccordion"},{"componentType":"sectionTitle","title":"Good to know"},{"componentType":"paragraph","richBody":{"value":"<p><span lang=\"en-BE\" dir=\"ltr\">ING can help you </span><a href=\"https://www.ing.be/en/individuals/borrowing/home/get-a-new-epc\">find a certified expert to create an EPC</a><span lang=\"en-BE\" dir=\"ltr\"> for your home.</span></p><p><span lang=\"en-BE\" dir=\"ltr\">Are you house hunting and preparing a renovation? Or would you like an estimate of the total renovation costs for your current home? Support is available from start to finish. </span></p><p><span lang=\"en-BE\" dir=\"ltr\">ING’s one-stop shop offers everything you need to get started. From personalised advice and financing options to practical checklists and energy-saving tips, this toolkit helps you make choices for your home. </span><a href=\"https://www.ing.be/en/individuals/borrowing/home/one-stop-shop-renovation/your-energy-renovation-toolkit\">Explore the toolkit here.</a></p>"}}]},"hasMacro":false,"id":"caac5027-acab-43b2-8885-e3746350399d","localeString":"en-GB","mainHeaderZone":{"backLink":{"textLink":{"text":"Borrowing for your home","url":"/en/individuals/borrowing/home"}},"componentType":"editorialHeader","coreHeader":{"body":"You have probably already heard about EPC and why it matters for your home, your energy bill, and your comfort.  But what exactly does it entail and what does it mean for you?","headerImage":{"extension":"jpg","original":"https://assets.ing.com/m/53bbf5b133f4db00/original/Duik-in-de-economie-huizenrij.jpg","transformBaseUrl":"https://assets.ing.com/transform/4d1021fc-0f7e-4966-9573-a43392728ed2/Duik-in-de-economie-huizenrij","type":"image","width":2508},"title":"EPC: A clear overview"},"date":"2026-05-21","readingTime":4},"publishDate":"2026-05-21T13:06:50.933+02:00"}}