Yes. An electrical compliance certificate (CE) is compulsory to sell any home with a fixed electrical installation, and the report must be handed to the buyer at the deed. The report can be favourable or unfavourable; a non-compliant one does not block the sale (Belgian inspection bodies, 2026).
Selling a Walloon home means having its fixed electrical installation inspected against the RGIE and providing that report to the buyer. The inspection is mandatory: the notary will require the certificate before drawing up the deed, precisely because electrical safety directly affects the person moving in (Belgian inspection bodies, 2026). What surprises many sellers is the distinction between having the certificate and passing it.
The obligation is to produce the report, not to achieve a favourable result. If the inspection is favourable, the certificate is valid for 25 years and the matter is closed. If it is unfavourable, you may still sell, but the report must be disclosed and the buyer then has 18 months from the deed to bring the installation up to standard and obtain a fresh, compliant inspection (Belgian inspection bodies, 2026). Either way, the report exists and travels with the sale.
The counter-intuitive takeaway mirrors the EPC: the law demands transparency, not perfection. A seller with an old installation is not forced to rewire before selling; they must simply commission the inspection and pass on whatever it says. Many older homes in Liege, Namur and Charleroi change hands every year with a non-compliant report and a price that anticipates the works.
Two practical caveats. First, the inspection must be recent enough to reflect the current installation, so if you have altered the wiring you need a new report. Second, when a favourable certificate already exists and remains within its 25-year validity, and the installation has not changed, it can usually be reused, saving a fresh inspection. Getting the report early lets you decide whether to fix issues yourself or let the buyer take on the 18-month deadline.
At a glance
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| Is the CE mandatory to sell? | Yes, for any fixed installation (Belgian inspection bodies, 2026) |
| When is it needed? | Before the notarial deed |
| Must the report be favourable? | No, it must simply be provided |
| Favourable report validity | 25 years for a domestic installation |
| Unfavourable report | Sale allowed, buyer must comply within 18 months |
| New wiring? | A fresh inspection is required |
| Reuse existing certificate? | Yes, if valid and installation unchanged |