Anyone selling a home in Belgium must have the electrical installation inspected by an accredited inspection body. The inspection report is one of the documents the buyer receives. Below you can read how it works and what to look out for.
What is inspected?
The inspector checks whether the installation complies with the AREI, the General Regulation on Electrical Installations. Among other things, they look at the earthing, the residual current devices, the protection of the circuits, the condition of the distribution board and whether there is a single-line diagram and a layout diagram.
Positive or negative report
- Positive: the installation is in order. A new inspection follows after a certain period or at the next sale.
- Negative: there are infringements. The buyer must have the installation brought up to standard and re-inspected within 18 months of the sale. To do so, the buyer must give their identity and the date of the deed to the inspection body.
Tips for sellers
A negative report sometimes puts buyers off or is used to push the price down. So have the installation checked beforehand. The remarks are often limited (a missing diagram, a residual current device that does not work properly) and quickly resolved.
Tips for buyers
Read the report carefully and ask an electrician for a price to fix the remarks. That way you know what to expect before you buy. Planning a thorough renovation anyway? Then it often makes sense to renew the installation completely straight away.
The rules may change; more information is available from the FPS Economy. Want your installation checked or brought up to standard? Read more about inspection and AREI compliance or request a no-obligation quote.
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