Also in 2023 there are a lot of changes in terms of living in Flanders. Especially the Flemish government’s climate plan will influence these changes this year. Thus, Flanders hopes to achieve a 40% reduction in CO2 emissions by 2030. In this article, we have already listed the most important changes for you.
Renovation duty
Renovating your residential home will become mandatory as of Jan. 1, 2023. Anyone buying a home with EPC label E or F will be required to renovate the home within 5 years of purchase. The renovated home must then achieve at least an EPC label D. The renovation requirement is one of the biggest components in reducing overall energy emissions.
For people who need to renovate their homes, there are many changes you can make to improve the energy label of your house or apartment. For example, it is best to have your entire home insulated; this already has a great effect on your energy consumption. In addition, you can have double windows, a high-efficiency boiler and heat pump installed.
EPC label
EPC or energy performance certificate shows how energy efficient a home is. It is a label that shows how much energy consumption is per square meter. The score ranges from a poor F to a good A+. The certificate must be made by an expert and the price depends on the complexity of the building.
For whom.
For all new owners of an energy-hungry home in 2023, it is mandatory to renovate the house or apartment. After the renovation, the new EPC label must be determined by an energy expert.
Are you curious about how well your home currently scores? Do the test via https://apps.energiesparen.be/test-uw-epc.
Financial support
On Vlaanderen.be you can find all the necessary information regarding the renovation obligation and the financial support measures you can apply for. For example, you have the EPC label premium, renovation premium and renovation loan.
Changes for a connection to natural gas
From 2060, nowhere will natural gas connections be possible for new construction homes. To make a soft transition to this, the maximum cost of 250 euros on the natural gas connection by network operators will disappear. As a result, the cost of such a natural gas connection will increase significantly in 2023. With this, the government sets the goal of eliminating this indirect fossil fuel subsidy.
Mandatory Asbestos Certificate
Are you planning to sell your house or condo in 2023? Anyone who wants to sell a house built before 2001 will have to have an asbestos certificate when the deed is signed. So if you have plans to sell your house in early 2023, it is best to contact an asbestos expert in good time. This is because the expert needs time to prepare, schedule and conduct a site visit. Check the OVAM website for more information or for a list of certified asbestos experts. By the way, the obligation applies not only to residential homes, but also to office spaces, government buildings and more.
Mandatory heat pump
Are you buying a new home in 2023? Then it must be low carbon and you are required to install a heat pump. Until 2026, this may also be a hybrid heat pump, which runs partly on electricity and partly on gas. From 2026, only fully electric heat pumps will be installed.
For renovations and existing homes, the installation of a heat pump will be encouraged by a premium. For the installation of a hybrid heat pump you will receive a premium of 1,500 euros and for an electric heat pump you will receive 2,250 euros. This is therefore a nice bonus if you fall under the renovation obligation with your house or apartment.
Changes in interest-free loans
Making your home energy efficient involves a lot of costs. To help make these adjustments, the Flemish government will support you financially. The existing interest-free loan of a maximum of 15,000 euros will be increased to 50,000 euros in 2023. The term was fixed at 25 years.
If you go one step further and renovate your home to energy label C or better, you will be able to apply for a negative interest rate for the first 10 years. This is a nice extra motivation to get involved and get started!
Renovation grants remain
In addition to the interest-free loan, there are a few more grants you can apply for to renovate your home to make it as energy-neutral as possible. Check out the Vlaanderen.be website for a list of premiums for renovations and subsidies for energy-saving measures. You can also contact Fluvius for all kinds of premiums. There are also many premiums for renovation and conversion work.
Are you currently renting and still want to live more energy efficient? Then read our 5 tips for an energy-efficient rental property here.