How to find your property's EPC?
To correctly calculate the indexation of a rent (in Brussels or Flanders), you need the property's EPC certificate. Here are five paths to find it, from the fastest to the most expensive.
1. Check the lease contract
In Belgium, the EPC must be annexed to the lease (as a copy). If you signed the contract less than 10 years ago, the certificate is probably in your tenant or landlord file. Look for a document with:
- A letter A to G (the energy class)
- A score in kWh/m²/year
- The logo of the relevant region
- The name of the certified assessor who issued it
2. Contact the certified assessor
If the lease's EPC is missing but the property has already been certified, you can find the certified assessor who issued it (their name appears on every certificate issued in the last 10 years). They can provide you a copy or direct you to the regional database.
3. Consult the regional databases
Each region maintains a public database of issued EPCs. Several databases per type of property:
Wallonia
energie.wallonie.be → section EPC certificate. The CertIBE database allows consulting issued certificates. Personal account sometimes required to access the detail.
Brussels
environment.brussels → section EPC certification of buildings. The Brussels database is more open than the Walloon one — often a simple search by address returns the current EPC.
Flanders
energiesparen.be → section EPC. The Flemish portal also includes a simulation module for the energy score based on your planned works.
4. Ask the notary (in case of recent purchase)
If you acquired the property in recent years, the EPC was a mandatory part of the sale deeds. Your notary keeps a copy of the deed file with the annexes — they can provide you the certificate upon simple request.
5. Have a new EPC issued
If none of the above paths work, or if the existing certificate is more than 10 years old, a new certificate must be issued by a certified assessor of the relevant region. Count:
- Wallonia: €200-300 for an apartment, €300-450 for a house
- Brussels: €250-400 depending on surface
- Flanders: €200-350 (simplified EPC) or €400-600 (full energy audit)
The certificate remains valid for 10 years. Issuance generally takes 1 to 3 weeks (on-site visit + calculation + drafting).
Why is the EPC important for indexation?
In Brussels (pre-2022 leases) and Flanders (all leases), the EPC determines the applicable indexation coefficient. The worse the EPC, the lower the indexation:
- EPC A-C: 100 % indexation possible (Bxl/Wal historical) or 75-100 % (Vla)
- EPC D-E: 75 % (Bxl/Wal) or 50-75 % (Vla)
- EPC F-G: 0 % — no indexation as long as the property remains class F-G
Frequently asked questions
How long is an EPC certificate valid? + −
10 years in the three regions. After that, it must be renewed by a certified assessor.
Is the EPC mandatory for renting? + −
Yes in all 3 Belgian regions. Without an EPC, rental is in principle illegal. In practice, sanctions vary, but its absence also prevents indexation of pre-2022 leases in Brussels.
How much does a new EPC certificate cost? + −
€200 to €400 for a standard property depending on surface and region. Count more for a large house or building (sometimes EPC per unit).
Who can issue an EPC? + −
Only certified assessors approved by the relevant region. They are listed on the regional sites: energie.wallonie.be, environment.brussels, energiesparen.be (Flanders).
The lease's EPC differs from the regional database: what to do? + −
The EPC in the regional database prevails (official). If different, contact the certified assessor to verify — it may be a partial update or an error.
My property has an EPC score by letter (A to G), not by number: is that normal? + −
Yes, that's the standard format. Some recent certificates also indicate a numerical score (kWh/m²/year), but the letter is sufficient for indexation.