Is your roof ready for 2020?
Starting January 1, 2020, roof insulation will be mandatory in Flanders. If your roof does not meet the insulation standards, your home risks being declared unfit for habitation. It is better to ensure your roof is insulated and save on energy.
Roof insulation is essential in every home. Whether in projects existing homes, this is the most important step toward lowering your energy bill. An insulation thickness of 15 cm is highly recommended. More is, of course, even better. However, the 2018 housing survey by the Flemish government shows that 14% of homes—a total of 450,000 homes—still lack roof insulation.
And this is despite the fact that the Flemish government wants to make our housing stock more energy-efficient. It has set deadlines to achieve this. Starting January 1, 2020, the lack of roof insulation may be sufficient grounds to declare a home unfit for habitation if the overall EPC standard (energy score) is not met. These thresholds are:
600 kWh/m² for low-density development
550 kWh/m² for semi-detached housing
500 kWh/m² for a low-rise development
400 kWh/m² for an apartment
Currently, a limited number of penalty points are already assigned for the lack of adequate roof insulation. Starting in 2020, a home will immediately be assigned 15 penalty points if it does not meet the established standard. This means that the mayor can declare the home unfit for habitation. To be allowed to live in the home, the owner must then carry out these insulation works. Please note regarding apartments: in an apartment building, all apartments receive the same number of penalty points for the lack of roof insulation, not just the apartments located under the roof.
Declare unsuitable
The likelihood of a housing inspector showing up at your door while you’re living in the property yourself is low. But if you’re renting out the property, you need to be on your guard. Any property deemed unfit for habitation after accumulating 15 penalty points in the technical report is added to a Flemish registry. A fee will be imposed if the property is still on the inventory list after one year. An unfit property can be sold, but the notary will inform the buyer of the property’s unfitness regardless. After all, the new buyer bears the consequences of the unfitness.
Is your home inadequately insulated in 2020, but has not yet been declared unfit for habitation? If so, please note that when you put your home up for sale, this information will not be disclosed to a prospective buyer. However, be aware that failing to meet the standards will affect the value of your home.
Roof insulation grants
You can still receive subsidies from the grid operator for the installation of roof insulation through December 31, 2019. This subsidy amounts to 4 euros per square meter if the insulation has an R-value of at least 4.5 m²K/W.
If you choose at least 3 investments from a package of 7 (roof, floor, and wall insulation; insulated glazing; a ventilation system; a solar water heater; and a heat pump), you can take advantage of the total renovation bonus. This bonus amounts to €1,250 for 3 investments, €1,750 for 4 investments, €2,750 for 5, €3,750 for 6, and €4,750 for 7 investments. In apartments, half of these amounts apply. There are additional requirements regarding the minimum area to be insulated, and the rest of the home must also be sufficiently insulated.
Source: Vlaanderen.be and Energiesparen.be