Know the minimum energy rules for rental homes

Every rental home in Flanders must have basic roof insulation and double glazing; single glazing in more than one window can get a house or flat declared unfit.

Flanders · Subject to change

Sources checked on 7 Oct 2026 · next check by 31 Jan 2027. Check the source before you act.

Rights & rulesLevel 1 · HabitCost: FreeA few minutes

Flemish housing quality rules set two energy minimums for every home. The roof needs at least a basic layer of insulation: an R-value of 0.75 m²K/W, about 3 to 4 cm. That is far below what the Flemish government recommends for a well-insulated roof (Rd of at least 4.5 m²K/W), so a home can meet the rule and still lose a lot of heat.

Every home also needs double glazing. In a house or flat, each window with single glazing counts as a defect, and since 2023 more than one can get the home declared unfit (ongeschikt), unless its EPC energy score is already low enough. In a rented room, the rule covers the living room and the bathroom. An unfit home cannot get a conformity certificate (conformiteitsattest) and may not be rented out until it is fixed.

If your home doesn't meet these rules, tell your landlord in writing first, with photos and a list of the defects. If that doesn't solve it, report it to your municipality, which can send a housing inspector free of charge. Keep paying your rent in the meantime.

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	Legal minimum; enforcement can push landlords to improve the home. (confidence: medium)
Who acts	Landlord
Needs landlord's agreement	No
Type	Rules explained

Sources

Woningkwaliteit: minimale vereisten energiezuinige woning (in Dutch) · Woningpas, Vlaamse overheid (official source) · checked on 7 Oct 2026
Backs: roof insulation minimum (R-value 0.75 m²K/W or 3 to 4 cm), and when missing roof insulation counts as a serious defect

Where: section 'De dakisolatienorm'
Dubbele beglazing in elke woning (in Dutch) · Vlaamse overheid (vlaanderen.be) (official source) · checked on 7 Oct 2026
Backs: double glazing required in every home since 2020; per window for houses and flats, unfit since 2023 with more than one single-glazed window, exemption with a low EPC energy score; living rooms and bathroom for rented rooms
Besparen op uw energieverbruik (in Dutch) · Vlaamse overheid (vlaanderen.be) (official source) · checked on 7 Oct 2026
Backs: recommended roof insulation of at least Rd 4.5 m²K/W

Where: section 'Isoleer de woning rondomrond', 'Begin met dikke dakisolatie'
Stappen bij problemen met de woningkwaliteit (in Dutch) · Vlaamse overheid (vlaanderen.be) (official source) · checked on 7 Oct 2026
Backs: tell the landlord in writing first, then report to the municipality, which can send a housing inspector free of charge; keep paying the rent