Understand your heating bill when the building has shared heating
With collective heating you can't choose a supplier, part of the cost is shared by everyone, and your own use is measured by a meter; with a remotely read meter you are entitled to free monthly information.
Flanders · Subject to change
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In a building with a central boiler room, the association of co-owners, the syndic or the social housing company manages the heating and chooses the supplier; you can't switch yourself. Your own heat use must be measured with an individual meter, and all such meters must be readable remotely by 1 January 2027.
Your bill has two parts. A shared part, between 10% and 60% of the energy costs, is split by a fixed key. That is partly because some heat is lost in the pipes, and most of that ends up warming the apartments and common areas anyway. The rest, between 40% and 90%, follows your own use. With a remotely read meter, you are entitled to free, reliable information about your use every month, so you can see the effect of turning the heating down.
If you rent, the landlord pays the inspection of the central heating and you pay its maintenance, unless the lease says otherwise. If something on the bill seems wrong, ask the manager of the heating first, then the federal energy ombudsman, and then VREG.
Details
| Impact | Indirect · This saves no energy by itself: it is a rule, a service, a contract, or a health or safety item. How we rate impact |
|---|---|
| Estimated saving | Not quantified; monthly information lets you see and adjust your own use. (confidence: low) |
| Who acts | You and your landlord |
| Needs landlord's agreement | No |
| Type | Rules explained |
Do this together with
Sources
- Collectieve verwarming (in Dutch) · VREG (Vlaamse Regulator van de Elektriciteits- en Gasmarkt) (official source) · checked on
- Verplichtingen voor centrale verwarming en stookolietank voor verhuurder en huurder (in Dutch) · Vlaamse overheid (vlaanderen.be) (official source) · checked on