EPC Common Areas: the mandatory certificate for your apartment building

The EPC Common Areas (EPC CA) is an energy performance certificate specifically for the common areas of an apartment building: the entrance hall, stairwells, corridors, technical rooms, common basement and any communal heating or hot water installations. This certificate has been mandatory since 1 January 2022 for all apartment buildings with at least 2 units. It is drawn up at the level of the entire building, not per individual apartment. In our experience, the EPC CA is still relatively unknown to many HOAs (Homeowners Associations). Yet it is a valuable instrument: it maps the energy performance of the common areas and provides concrete recommendations for energy-saving measures at building level.

During the inspection of the common areas, we examine:

• Common building envelope — facades, roof, basement floor/ceiling: insulation values and material characteristics
• Common heating installation — boiler type(s), capacity, year, efficiency (if central system)
• Common hot water production — boiler type, distribution losses, circulation pump
• Common ventilation — system in common areas and ducts
• Common area lighting — fixture types in entrance hall, stairwells, corridors, garage
• Renewable energy systems — communal solar panels, heat pump, CHP
• Lifts and other communal installations

During our inspections of apartment buildings, we coordinate closely with the building manager or HOA administrator to gain access to all technical rooms and gather the necessary documentation.

For the EPC Common Areas, the following documents are useful:

• Building plans (all floors)
• Technical data sheets of communal heating and hot water installations
• Maintenance reports of the heating installation
• Invoices for renovation work on common areas
• Minutes of the last general assembly (if relevant for planned renovations)
• Data on the year of construction and any modifications

The building manager or HOA administrator usually has most of this information. We recommend contacting the building manager in advance so that all documents are available in time.

The inspection of the common areas takes on average 2 to 5 hours, depending on the size of the building (number of floors, number of units) and the complexity of the communal installations. After the inspection, you receive the EPC CA typically within 48 to 72 hours. For large apartment buildings with many units, both the inspection and the processing may take more time.

The price for an EPC Common Areas is calculated on a custom basis based on the number of units, the number of floors and the complexity of the communal installations. Factors influencing the price include the presence of a central heating system, the number of technical rooms and the availability of documentation. Request a free quote stating the number of apartments and floors, and you will receive a transparent price within 1 working day.

Since 1 January 2022, the EPC Common Areas is mandatory for all apartment buildings in Flanders with at least 2 residential units. The HOA (Homeowners Association) is responsible for having the certificate drawn up. The EPC CA is valid for 10 years. The certificate must be available to all co-owners and is used as a basis for the renovation plan at building level. The Flemish government encourages HOAs to draw up a joint renovation plan based on the EPC CA to make the building progressively more energy efficient towards 2050. For more information about legal obligations, check our frequently asked questions.