Asbestos certificate Flanders
OVAM-compliant asbestos certificate, within 7 working days
Required since 23 November 2022 when selling any home built before 2001. An OVAM-accredited expert visits.
What it is
What does an asbestos certificate contain?
The asbestos certificate shows, per part of the building, which materials contain or are suspected to contain asbestos. For each material, the expert records the condition, the risk and concrete management measures.
- Identification of the property with a unique certificate number in the OVAM database.
- List of identified asbestos or asbestos-suspect materials, per room.
- Condition: bonded, non-bonded, damaged or undamaged.
- Risk assessment and management measures for each source.
- Photo file and any sample results.
- Final conclusion: the property is asbestos-safe or not asbestos-safe, with concrete guidelines for safe management.
Obligation
When do you need an asbestos certificate?
The obligation is being expanded step by step. You will find a timeline further down. Today and in the coming years, the following applies:
- Since 23 November 2022: required when selling any home built before 2001 in Flanders.
- When concluding a new rental agreement: if an asbestos certificate already exists, the landlord must provide a copy to the tenant.
- By the end of 2026: required for the common areas of apartment buildings (co-ownerships).
- From 1 January 2030: required to have an asbestos certificate and to hand it over when concluding any new rental agreement.
- By 2032: every owner of a building built before 2001 must have a valid asbestos certificate, even without a sale or rental.
Important: for homes built from 2001 onwards no certificate is required, because asbestos materials were banned in Belgium from that year.
Procedure
How does our expert’s visit work?
Our OVAM-accredited asbestos expert follows a strict inspection protocol.
- Preparation: old building plans, certificates or photos help us identify suspect zones.
- Visual inventory on site, room by room, including attic and basement.
- Photos of each suspect source with location and condition.
- Sampling where there is doubt about the composition, with laboratory analysis.
- Processing and delivery of the certificate within 7 working days.
You may refuse sampling in accordance with OVAM regulations. This does affect the legal evidentiary value of the certificate. Our expert discusses each consideration with you during the visit.
Please note: there are four types of samples that can never be refused if observable: spray coating (sprayed asbestos), insulation (plaster/cement, e.g. insulated pipes), plasterwork and render. Refusing one of these samples automatically means that no certificate can be issued.
Wetgeving
Asbestos legislation in Belgium
The regulations around asbestos evolved from the first restrictions in the seventies to a complete ban and the current certificate obligation. Below are the key milestones, focusing on what matters today for your home.
Beweeg over een bolletje om de wetgeving te ontdekken.
- 1898Belgium
First asbestos factory in Belgium
Eternit starts its production in Kapelle-op-den-Bos. The beginning of nearly a century of asbestos use in building materials.
From the early twentieth century, asbestos was incorporated into corrugated sheets, slates, insulation, floor coverings and thousands of other building products. Until the late nineties it remained common in the Belgian construction sector.
- 1978Federal
First restrictions on exposure
The Royal Decree of 28 August 1978 sets the first limit values for asbestos in the working environment.
Employers must carry out measurements and limit workers’ exposure to asbestos fibres. The standard becomes increasingly strict over the following decades.
- 1986Federal
RD Protection of workers
Royal Decree of 22 July 1986 on the protection of workers against asbestos.
Mandatory risk analysis, personal protective equipment and medical supervision for those who work with asbestos-containing materials. Mainly applicable to demolition companies and insulation installers.
- 1998Belgium
Belgian ban on crocidolite and amosite
The production and use of blue and brown asbestos fibres are banned in Belgium.
The most dangerous types of asbestos disappear from the market. White asbestos (chrysotile) remains permitted to a limited extent in a number of applications.
- 2001Belgium
Complete ban on asbestos in Belgium
The RD of 23 October 2001 bans all use of asbestos fibres in new products.
From 1 January 2002, no asbestos-containing material may be produced or installed. This year is therefore the pivotal date for the asbestos certificate: all buildings built before 2001 are suspect and require an inventory.
- 2005EU
EU ban transposed
European directive 1999/77/EC provides a complete ban in all EU member states.
From 1 January 2005, asbestos is banned throughout Europe in new products. Belgium, with its 2001 decree, was ahead of this deadline.
- 2018Flanders
Flemish asbestos reduction policy
OVAM launches the asbestos reduction policy aiming for an asbestos-safe Flanders by 2040.
The policy includes demolition guidance, removal subsidies, awareness-raising, and the introduction of the asbestos certificate. The end goal is that by 2040 all asbestos present in Flemish buildings is safely managed or removed.
- 2022Flanders
Asbestos certificate required when selling
From 23 November 2022, an asbestos certificate is required for every sale of a home built before 2001.
The seller must provide the certificate to the buyer before signing the private sale agreement. The certificate remains valid for 10 years and is drawn up by an OVAM-accredited asbestos inventory expert.
- 2026Flanders
Obligation for common areas (co-ownership)
By the end of 2026, the common areas of apartment buildings (co-ownerships) must have an asbestos certificate.
The association of co-owners is responsible. The property manager arranges the drawing up and the distribution of the cost among the owners according to the shares in the common areas.
- 2030Flanders
Asbestos certificate required at each new rental
From 1 January 2030, an asbestos certificate is required and must be handed over when concluding any new rental agreement.
Until that date the following applies: if a certificate already exists, the landlord must provide a copy to the tenant. From 2030, having and handing over the certificate is mandatory.
- 2032Flanders
Every owner must have a certificate
By 2032, every owner of a building built before 2001 must have a valid asbestos certificate.
Regardless of sale or rental. The aim is to have a documented inventory for every suspect building, so that materials are safely managed or gradually removed.
- 2034Flanders
Asbestos-safe: public buildings
Interim milestone: all schools, hospitals and public buildings must be asbestos-safe.
Asbestos-safe means that all easily accessible asbestos sources in poor condition have been removed. Non-accessible materials in good condition may remain subject to management measures.
- 2040Flanders
Asbestos-safe Flanders
Finish line: by 2040, all Flemish buildings are asbestos-safe.
Concretely: all materials in poor condition must be removed, including in private homes. Owners are responsible and can count on subsidies and collective disposal initiatives.
Asbestos check
In doubt about a specific material?
For those who do not need a full certificate but want certainty about a specific material, we offer the asbestos check with sampling. We visit, check the suspect material and have a sample analysed in the lab.
Price: 150 EUR for the first material, then 40 EUR per additional material. The asbestos check does not replace a full asbestos certificate when selling, but quickly gives you clarity for renovation or demolition works.
Accreditation
OVAM-accredited asbestos expert
The asbestos certificate is drawn up by an asbestos inventory expert (ADI), accredited by OVAM.
Fixed asbestos certificate prices
Our fixed prices include the OVAM levy (worth € 59) as well as 2 free lab samples.
| Type | Prijs incl. btw |
|---|---|
| Garage | 325 EUR |
| Studioup to 50 m² | 355 EUR |
| Apartmentone floor, < 150 m² | 485 EUR |
| Closed developmenttwo shared walls | 545 EUR |
| Semi-detached developmentone shared wall | 595 EUR |
| Detached development up to 300 m²four free façades | 645 EUR |
| Building 300 – 500 m² | 745 EUR |
| Building larger than 500 m² | on request |
| Common areas (co-ownership)basic: max. 4 floors incl. basement, first lift included, basement up to 2nd floor | 520 EUR |
| Additional floor co-ownership | + 55 EUR |
| Additional lift co-ownership | + 55 EUR |
| Additional lab sample | + 40 EUR |
Combine an EPC and asbestos certificate at the same address for an automatic 5% combo discount. In doubt about a specific material? Our separate asbestos check with sampling costs 150 EUR for the first material, then + 40 EUR per additional sample.
Ready to book?
Fixed price, certificate within 7 business days, pay after the visit.