Energy Ladder Sourced energy-saving tips

← All tips

Appoint an EPB reporter before building starts, and keep your EPC bouw

Before the works start you appoint an EPB reporter and a ventilation reporter. Afterwards the EPB declaration gives you an EPC bouw, valid for 10 years.

Flanders · Subject to change

Sources checked on · next check by . Check the source before you act.

Building rules (EPB, EPC)Level 5 · Deep renovationCost: €100–2,500A few hours

When you build a new home, you are the person responsible for EPB (in Dutch, the aangifteplichtige). Before the works start, you appoint an accredited EPB reporter (EPB-verslaggever) and an accredited ventilation reporter. The EPB reporter can be your architect, or another architect or engineer. The EPB reporter files a start declaration (startverklaring) before the works begin.

After the works, the reporter files the EPB declaration (EPB-aangifte). It is due within 12 months of the earlier of two dates: when you start living in the home or when the works end. It must also be filed at the latest 6 years after the permit was granted, up from 5 years before 1 March 2026.

With the declaration, the reporter draws up your EPC bouw, the energy certificate of the new home. It is valid for 10 years. Keep the signed copy, because you show it to a buyer or tenant.

You pay the fine if the start declaration or the EPB declaration is late, or if the home does not meet one or more EPB requirements. The bigger the shortfall, the higher the fine.

Details

ImpactIndirect · 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 savingNot quantified; the reporter checks the design and files the declarations that avoid fines. (confidence: low)
Who actsYou (owner)
Needs landlord's agreementNo
TypeAction

Do this together with

Sources

  1. Startverklaring - procedure (EPB-pedia) (in Dutch) · Vlaams Energie- en Klimaatagentschap (EPB-pedia) (official source) · checked on
    Backs: the person responsible must appoint a reporter, who files the start declaration before the works start
  2. Nieuwe EPB-eisen voor nieuwbouw en renovatie (brochure, maart 2026) (in Dutch) · Vlaams Energie- en Klimaatagentschap (official source) · checked on
    Backs: appoint an accredited EPB reporter and ventilation reporter; keep the signed EPC bouw for 10 years and show it to a buyer or tenant
    Where: sections 'Wat is verplicht?' and 'EPC-bouw'
  3. EPB-aangifte - procedure (EPB-pedia) (in Dutch) · Vlaams Energie- en Klimaatagentschap (EPB-pedia) (official source) · checked on
    Backs: the reporter files the EPB declaration within 12 months of first use or the end of the works, and at the latest 6 years after the permit (5 years before 1 March 2026)
    Where: section 'Waar en wanneer opmaken en indienen?'
  4. EPC Bouw (EPB-pedia) (in Dutch) · Vlaams Energie- en Klimaatagentschap (EPB-pedia) (official source) · checked on
    Backs: the reporter draws up the EPC bouw with the EPB declaration; valid for 10 years
  5. EPB-controles en boetes (EPB-pedia) (in Dutch) · Vlaams Energie- en Klimaatagentschap (EPB-pedia) (official source) · checked on
    Backs: the person responsible is fined for a late start declaration, a late EPB declaration or unmet EPB requirements
    Where: section 'Boetes'
  6. EPB-eisen (in Dutch) · Vlaamse overheid (vlaanderen.be) (official source) · checked on
    Backs: the bigger the shortfall, the higher the fine
    Where: section 'Procedure'
  7. Energieprestatieregelgeving voor nieuwbouw en renovatie (EPB) (in Dutch) · Vlaamse overheid (vlaanderen.be) (official source) · checked on
    Backs: the EPB reporter can be the designing architect, another architect or an engineer
    Where: steps 1 to 5

Suggest an improvement to this tip