The energy performance certificate (PEB/EPC) is no longer just an administrative requirement. According to a recent Trends-Tendances real estate dossier featuring insights from Gilles Vanvolsem, Director General of BGBC, it has become a key factor influencing property values, investment decisions, mortgage conditions and renovation strategies across Belgium.
The dossier highlights the scale of the challenge ahead. Belgium counts approximately 5.7 million homes, yet only around 5% already meet the 2050 climate objectives, leaving more than 5.2 million homes in need of renovation, replacement or deep upgrading. Current renovation rates remain far below the level required to achieve climate neutrality by mid-century.
At the same time, the EPC is increasingly shaping market behaviour. Real estate agents report growing difficulties selling poorly performing buildings, while well-executed renovations create clear value. Banks are also integrating energy performance into financing decisions, with the PEB increasingly used as an indicator when assessing mortgage conditions and potential green lending incentives.
The dossier also points to a major challenge: Belgium's three regions continue to apply different methodologies, classifications and renovation pathways. As a result, similar buildings can receive different scores depending on their location, creating uncertainty for owners, buyers, investors and professionals. BGBC warns that this lack of alignment also increases complexity for energy certifiers, who must currently qualify under different regional systems.
Looking ahead, the role of the EPC is expected to grow further. The European Green Deal and energy transition have firmly embedded energy performance into real estate decision-making. However, for the market to accelerate renovation at the required pace, stakeholders need more than a label alone. They need clear, consistent and actionable information that supports investment, financing and renovation decisions across the entire building value chain.
BGBC is working with stakeholders across the construction, real estate and financial sectors to develop a common language for sustainability and provide practical guidance that helps navigate Belgium's fragmented regulatory landscape. As the dossier concludes, energy performance is becoming one of the defining factors of tomorrow's property market.