Yes. A valid EPC (PEB) is compulsory to sell a home in Wallonia, and the energy label must appear from the very first advertisement. It is issued by an accredited certifier and stays valid for 10 years (ImmoAnalyse, 2026).
The EPC (PEB) is not optional paperwork you produce at the deed; it is required from the moment you market the property. Walloon rules oblige the seller to hold a valid energy performance certificate before advertising, and to display the energy label and reference in every listing, whether online, in print or in an agency window (ImmoAnalyse, 2026). The logic is consumer information: a buyer should be able to compare the energy cost of running a home before they even visit.
Because the obligation attaches to advertising, the practical deadline is earlier than most sellers expect. You cannot lawfully publish your listing without the label, so the certificate has to be commissioned during preparation, not squeezed in before signing. A certifier accredited by the region visits, surveys the building and issues the document, which then remains valid for 10 years and can be reused for a later sale or letting if nothing structural has changed (ImmoAnalyse, 2026).
The counter-intuitive part is what the EPC does and does not require. It does not force you to renovate: you can sell a poorly rated F or G home perfectly legally, the label simply has to be disclosed. What is not allowed is hiding or omitting the label, or advertising without one, which exposes the seller to regional penalties and undermines the validity of the marketing. In other words, the rule is about transparency, not a minimum performance to sell.
For buyers, the label increasingly shapes the offer, since energy-hungry homes carry higher bills and, in lettings, tighter rent rules. For sellers, the takeaway is simple: get the EPC first, put the label in the advert, and let an accurate certificate support rather than undermine your price. Skipping it is the one thing you genuinely cannot do.
At a glance
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| Is the EPC mandatory to sell? | Yes, in Wallonia (ImmoAnalyse, 2026) |
| From when? | Before the first advertisement |
| What must be shown? | The energy label and reference in the listing |
| Who issues it? | A Walloon-accredited PEB certifier |
| Validity | 10 years from issue |
| Does it force renovation? | No, even F or G homes can be sold |
| Penalty for skipping | Regional fines and non-compliant marketing |