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Published on 3 November 20266 min read
Flanders rental conformity certificate: required?
The Immolytics editorial team
A conformity certificate shows that a rental home in Flanders meets the housing quality standards. It is not the same obligation for every landlord. It depends on the type of home and on the municipality. Here is when you need it, what the housing inspector checks and how to apply.
When do you need a conformity certificate to rent out a home?
In Flanders, every rental home must meet the housing quality standards. But a certificate is not compulsory for every landlord. Stricter rules apply to some types of home, such as rooms and small dwellings. A municipality can also set its own arrangements. If you want to be sure, ask the housing office of your municipality or Wonen Vlaanderen, the Flemish housing agency.
These rules apply to Flanders only. Wallonia and Brussels work differently. Wallonia, for example, requires an EPC certificate (called PEB in French) when a home is let. Brussels has its own rules for rental homes. A rule from one Region never applies automatically in another. If you let a property outside Flanders, look up the rules of that Region.
Even when the certificate is not compulsory, it can be useful. It shows that your home is in order. That helps in a dispute with a tenant, or if the municipality receives a complaint. Without a certificate, a tenant can always ask the municipality to have the home inspected.
Rooms and small dwellings
These types of home are the ones most often named when the certificate is compulsory. The exact definitions and thresholds are set by Flemish rules, which can change. Check the current text before you let this kind of property.
Rules differ by municipality
A municipality can add its own conditions. Two towns a few kilometres apart may therefore ask for different things. Your local housing office is the first place to check.
What does the housing inspector do?
A housing inspector is a person who checks whether a home meets the standards. The inspector works for the municipality or for a joint municipal service. He or she visits the property, walks through the whole building and writes a report. That report is the basis for the certificate, or for an order to bring the home up to standard.
The inspector looks at the safety and health of the occupants. Think of electricity, gas installation and heating, damp and mould, ventilation, daylight, stability of walls and roof, sanitary facilities and fire safety. The floor area of the rooms also counts, as does the presence of a private toilet and washing facilities.
The home is judged, not the landlord
The inspector assesses the state of the property at the time of the visit. The landlord as a person is not under review.
Rent is not the inspector's concern
An inspector does not decide on the rent. For a discussion about price you need other information, such as market prices in the area.
Defects of category I, II and III
The inspector sorts defects into three categories. Category I covers serious defects that put safety or health in direct danger. Category II covers defects of medium importance. Category III covers light defects that affect comfort but do not create an acute risk.
The category decides what happens after the visit. A home with serious defects does not get a certificate until they are repaired. For defects in the lower categories, what counts is mainly their number and their weight together. The exact thresholds are set in Flemish regulations. I deliberately give no figures here: read the current text from Wonen Vlaanderen, because it can change.
A few examples make this more concrete:
- A faulty gas installation or a missing smoke alarm affects safety.
- Serious damp and mould affect health.
- A window that closes badly or a worn floor covering is more a comfort problem.
The inspector decides case by case. The same complaint can weigh more heavily in one property than in another.
Safety and health first
Defects that touch safety or health come first in the assessment. They are also the ones that block a certificate until they are fixed.
Comfort defects
Light defects rarely stop a certificate on their own. They still count in the overall picture, so repairing them before the visit is wise.
How do you apply for a conformity certificate?
You apply to the municipality or city where the home is located. This usually goes through the housing office, the housing desk or a joint municipal service. Each municipality has its own form and its own way of working. So first check on the municipal website who handles the requests.
The steps are usually the same:
- You submit the request with the details of the home and of the owner.
- The municipality schedules a visit by the housing inspector.
- The inspector writes a report and sends it to the municipality.
- If the home is in order, you receive the certificate. If not, you receive an overview of what you must repair.
- After the repairs, a new visit may follow.
Whether the request costs money differs per municipality. Some charge a fee, others do not. You will find this in the municipal fee regulations. A certificate is also not valid forever. The period of validity and the conditions for a new certificate are set in the regulations. Check them before you let the home.
Prepare the visit
Have the technical inspection reports ready, such as those for electricity or heating. Make sure all rooms are accessible and repair small things in advance. This helps to avoid a second visit.
Costs and validity
Ask your municipality about the fee and keep the certificate with the other papers of the property. Note when it expires so that you can plan a new request in time.
Certificate, EPC and the value of your home
The conformity certificate is a different document from the energy performance certificate. The certificate is about safety and health. The EPC is about the energy use of the home. Both can play a role when you let a property, but they do not replace each other. Look up what applies in your Region and keep both documents together in your file.
A home in good condition also holds its value better. Landlords often want to know what a property earns and what it is worth. With the home value estimate you get a first indication of the value of your home. If you want a full document, see the written valuation report. This helps you see whether a renovation to meet the standards makes financial sense.
For a better view of the market, look at the price map and the property prices per municipality. With compare you can set two municipalities side by side, which is handy if you still have to choose where to buy a rental property. If you are looking for investment ideas, the top page shows a ranking of municipalities. You will find more calculators among the tools. If a term is unclear, such as EPC or housing quality, the explanation is in the glossary. If you want to finance a purchase, read about mortgage rates. This is information, not advice or an offer of credit.
Frequently asked questions
Is a conformity certificate compulsory when renting out a home?
Not always: in Flanders the certificate is mainly compulsory for certain types of home, such as rooms and small dwellings. All rental homes must still meet the housing quality standards. Ask your municipality what applies to your property.
What does a housing inspector do?
A housing inspector visits the home and checks whether it meets the safety and health standards. The inspector writes a report listing the defects found. That report is the basis for the certificate or for repair work.
What are category II and III defects?
Category II defects are of medium importance and category III defects are light. They do not directly endanger safety, but they count in the assessment. Serious defects fall under category I.
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