EPC guide Wallonia
Is the PEB certificate mandatory in Wallonia?
Direct answer
Yes. In Wallonia, the PEB certificate is mandatory for any home put up for sale or rent, and it must already exist when the listing is published. The label and specific consumption figure must be stated in the listing, and the certificate must then be handed to the buyer or tenant.
- Sale of a home
- mandatory
- Rental of a home
- mandatory
- From the listing onward
- label + consumption must be shown
- In force since
- 2011 (sale) / 2011 (rental)
- Penalty
- administrative fine
In which cases is the PEB certificate required?
The obligation applies to the housing unit, regardless of its age or condition. It therefore applies just as much to a rental studio as to a house needing renovation.
- Sale of a house, flat or studio.
- Letting, including student lets and short-term leases.
- Each housing unit in a divided building: one certificate per unit.
- Property sold for renovation or partial demolition: the certificate is still required.
Special cases
Some properties fall outside the scope of the residential PEB certificate: industrial or agricultural buildings with no residential use, temporary buildings, places of worship, and properties intended for full demolition authorised by a permit. In case of doubt, the actual use takes precedence over the building's appearance.
For a new build or a renovation requiring a building permit, it is not the sale certificate that applies first, but the PEB declaration procedure, carried out by a certified PEB officer (responsable PEB). The certificate is then drawn up based on that declaration.
What happens if you don't have a PEB certificate?
Lacking a PEB certificate exposes the owner to an administrative fine from the Walloon Region. Beyond the fine, the absence of a certificate weakens the sale agreement or lease and delays the notary appointment, since the notary checks for the presence of the document.
Concrete example
Frequently asked questions
Must the PEB certificate exist before the listing is published?
Yes. The energy label and specific consumption figure must appear in the sale or rental listing, which means the certificate must already exist at the time of publication.
Does a property needing renovation still need a PEB certificate?
Yes. The condition of the home does not exempt it from the obligation. A poor label (F or G) does not prevent a sale: it simply informs the buyer.
Who must provide the certificate, the owner or the agency?
The legal obligation rests with the selling owner or landlord. The estate agency can arrange the order, but responsibility remains with the owner.
Need an EPC certificate or some advice?
An accredited certifier answers you directly, with a firm price announced before the visit.