Asbestos certificate and EPC: what is the difference and when do you need both?

Anyone selling a property in Flanders quickly encounters mandatory certificates. Two of them are often confused: the EPC and the asbestos certificate. They both sound like administrative formalities, but they measure entirely different things. In this article we explain the difference and tell you when you need both.

What is an EPC?

The Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) assesses the energy efficiency of a home on a scale from A+ to F. It looks at insulation, heating, ventilation and renewable energy. The EPC is legally required for every sale and rental, regardless of the age of the building.

What is an asbestos certificate?

The asbestos certificate maps out which asbestos-containing materials are present in a building and what condition they are in. It is drawn up by a certified asbestos expert based on a non-destructive inspection of the accessible spaces. Since 23 November 2022, an asbestos certificate has been mandatory when selling buildings constructed before 2001. By 2032, every owner of such a building must hold a certificate, even without a sale.

The key differences

	EPC	Asbestos certificate
Measures	Energy efficiency	Presence of asbestos
Required for	Sale and rental	Sale of buildings from before 2001
Validity	10 years	In principle 10 years
Drawn up by	Type A energy expert	Certified asbestos expert

When do you need both?

Are you selling a property built before 2001? Then you need both an EPC and an asbestos certificate. For a more recent building (after 2001), the EPC is sufficient and an asbestos certificate is not required. For rentals, only the EPC is legally required.

How long are they valid?

An EPC is valid for 10 years. An asbestos certificate is in principle also valid for ten years, although that term can be shorter when damaged asbestos with an increased risk is found. So it pays to arrange both documents in good time.

Arrange it in one go

At EPC Expert you can request your EPC, and we can also help you further with your asbestos certificate. This way you arrange both mandatory documents through a single point of contact, without duplicate effort.