This year, the Flemish Agency for Energy and Climate received almost three times as many substantiated complaints about incorrect energy performance certificates (EPCs), which rate the energy efficiency of buildings.
The minister in charge of the sector, Zuhal Demir (N-VA), is promising additional checks and stricter requirements.
Last year, the regional agency recorded 63 substantiated complaints, a number that almost tripled in 2023.
"EPC is an important policy tool, linked to a number of initiatives, such as the EPC label premium and the renovation obligation. It also has an increasing impact on the market price of a house. It is therefore important that the EPCs are drafted correctly," emphasised Demir.
Energy experts who fail to comply with the guidelines face fines averaging €600. Last year, 45 fines were imposed. This year, there have already been 80. The Flemish Government has also decided to appoint an additional inspector, and two posts are still vacant.
In addition to these extra checks, the government has decided to take measures to improve the quality of EPCs, including the requirement for an approved expert to visit the site.
Furthermore, energy experts will no longer be able to be both estate agents and contractors, or issue a certificate for a building they own. Finally, the examinations to become an EPC expert will soon be organised by the Flemish authorities themselves.
"Consumers must be able to trust that every energy expert prepares a correct EPC certificate. Quality control and enforcement among energy experts will become more important than ever," Demir concluded.
