Renovation obligation in Flanders: label D within 6 years?

Anyone who has acquired a house or flat with EPC label E or F since 1 January 2023 must renovate it to at least label D. That applies to a sale, but also to a gift, an exchange or a contribution. An inheritance creates no new obligation; one that was already running does remain. The obligation applies per dwelling and per deed, second homes included, and the seller must state it in the advert, the sales agreement and the deed.

You have 6 years from the deed. The period went from 5 to 6 years; this was approved on 12 December 2025 and also applies to files already running. A deed of 1 February 2024 therefore has to be in order before 1 February 2030. The proof is a new EPC with at least label D. An EPC is valid for 10 years, and for a sale it must date from 2019 or later.

Vlaanderen.be still shows a schedule that asks label C for deeds from 2028, and stricter labels later. The Flemish Government announced that the obligation will stay at label D and that the tightening will go. That is announced, not yet written into the regulations. If you buy in 2028 or later, the check shows both.

If there is no compliant EPC after 6 years, the Flemish energy agency VEKA starts a procedure. The fine for a home is €500 to €5,000, for a non-residential building €500 to €200,000, and the obligation stays: you get a new deadline. Exempt are buildings demolished within 6 years, temporary structures in use for less than 2 years, and protected or listed architectural heritage.

Anyone who has acquired a non-residential building since 1 January 2022 carries out a minimum package within 6 years: roof insulation to a U of 0.24 W/m²K if the roof does not reach an R of 0.75 m²K/W, single glazing replaced by glazing with a U of at most 1 W/m²K, and central heating older than 15 years replaced. If the whole building changes hands at once, it must also reach label E or 5% renewable energy.

Separately, a let terraced house or flat must reach at least label D from 1 January 2030, a detached or semi-detached house label E. Where your home stands today, you can estimate with the EPC calculator.