Renovation obligation 2050: what does this mean for your home?

The Flemish renovation obligation requires new owners to gradually make their home more energy-efficient. Since 2023, buyers of homes with a poor EPC label (E or F) must renovate to at least label D within 5 years of purchase. By 2050, every Flemish home must reach label A or B.

The timeline in detail

The Flemish government has drawn up a clear step-by-step plan:

• From 2023: when buying a home with label E or F, you must renovate to at least label D within 5 years
• By 2032: all homes must reach at least label D (EPC score ≤ 400 kWh/m²/year)
• By 2040: all homes must reach at least label C (EPC score ≤ 300 kWh/m²/year)
• By 2050: all homes must reach at least label B (EPC score ≤ 200 kWh/m²/year), or preferably label A

This obligation is linked to the moment of property transfer: the renovation period starts at the purchase of the home.

What if your home already has label D?

If your home currently has label D, you don't need to do anything in the short term. But by 2040, you will need to renovate to label C, and by 2050 to label B. In our experience, it is financially more advantageous to plan renovations gradually rather than having to do everything at the last moment.

Which renovations have the most impact?

In our inspections, we clearly see which measures deliver the greatest improvement:

1. Roof insulation: often the quickest and most cost-effective measure. An uninsulated roof can cause 30% heat loss
2. Wall insulation: cavity wall insulation (if possible) or external insulation brings great improvements
3. High-efficiency boiler or heat pump: replacing an old boiler (>15 years) with a condensing boiler or heat pump has a significant effect
4. High-performance glazing: replacing single or double glazing with triple HR glass
5. Floor insulation: often forgotten, but can make a noticeable improvement

Check our 10 tips to improve your EPC score for a complete overview.

Financial support

The Flemish government provides various premiums and benefits:

• Mijn VerbouwPremie: premiums for insulation, heating, glazing and ventilation
• Mijn VerbouwLening: interest-free loan up to €60,000 for energy renovations
• EPC label premium: extra premium if you improve multiple EPC labels in one renovation
• Reduced VAT rate: 6% VAT on renovation work for homes older than 10 years

What if you don't renovate?

Currently, there are no fines for not meeting the long-term targets (2040, 2050). However, when buying a home with label E or F, the 5-year renovation obligation is enforceable. Moreover, property experts predict that homes with a poor EPC label will become increasingly difficult to sell and will lose value faster.

Your EPC as a starting point

The EPC certificate is the starting point for every renovation strategy. It provides not only your current score, but also concrete recommendations for improvements and their expected impact on the score. Have a current EPC drawn up to know where you stand.