Asbestos certificate FAQ

1. Is een asbestattest verplicht voor de verkoop van een woning?

Yes, an asbestos certificate is mandatory for the sale of a house in Flanders if it was built before 2001. If the house was built after 2001, the legislation assumes that it doesn't have any asbestos-containing materials.
An asbestos certificate is legally required to inform the buyer about the presence of asbestos and any potential health risks.

The legislation sets the criteria as: an Accessible Construction with a Risk Year. Concretely, the answer is therefore "yes", if this barn has a surface area greater than 20 m² and was built before 2001.
An asbestos certificate is legally required to inform the buyer about the presence of asbestos and any potential health risks, the purpose of the construction (residential units for example), only comes into play next.

Yes, this is correct if there are multiple residential units (and/or multiple owners), as this implicitly means separate sales of these residential units.
For example, a kangaroo house, a student room, and note that for each residential unit and for the shared space a certificate is required.

Yes, but a valid asbestos certificate is required for the sale of a house with asbestos.
An up-to-date asbestos certificate is necessary to provide the buyer with transparent information and to assess possible risks.

Asbestos can be found in various building materials, such as roofing, pipes and floor tiles.
It is found in various construction materials used before the 2000s.

As long as the applications are in good condition and well shielded, there does not necessarily have to be a risk.
Exposure to loose asbestos fibers can pose serious health risks if inhaled, so caution is advised.

Buildings constructed after 2001 are considered free of asbestos-containing materials.
After this date, the use of asbestos in construction was banned, so more recent buildings are generally free of asbestos.

Samples are taken from materials possibly containing asbestos such as insulation or roofing.
The investigation focuses on potential asbestos-containing materials that could release fibers if damaged. If no sample is taken and there is doubt about asbestos content, the conclusion is: "asbestos-containing" - in other words, a sample aims to rule out asbestos content.

Normally sample collection does not cause structural damage to the house.
The procedure for sample collection is designed not to cause structural damage - however, plaster for example is sampled. The expert will take into account the location of sample collection.

An asbestos certificate is valid for 5 to 10 years.
Depending on the condition of the asbestos-containing applications, an asbestos certificate with a shorter or longer validity can be drawn up. Given that asbestos applications are in use for at least 20 years, 5 years is more the norm.

The costs of an asbestos certificate vary, depending on the type of construction and the scope of the investigation.
The price depends on factors such as the size of the house and the required efforts for the investigation. Expect a certificate to cost at least €250 and for the price to scale with complexity. Beware of asbestos experts quoting a much lower price range; the final responsibility for the result of the certificate lies with the client, the expert is expected to work according to a certified protocol and has an obligation of means rather than result. A low cost may imply that the asbestos expert is not strict enough with the obligation of means - thorough work has its price. Note that OVAM and certification organizations are aware of these risks and monitor quality of the obligation of means via audits of certificates and field audits.

An inspection usually takes several hours, depending on the size of the construction.
The duration varies depending on the size and complexity of the construction. In addition to the on-site inspection, the preparation of the certificate also involves a preliminary investigation and processing of the field data into a certificate.

Self-removal of asbestos is not recommended; it requires professional handling.
Due to health risks, asbestos removal is advised to be done by professionals with proper equipment and training. For some tightly bound applications (where the asbestos fibers are strongly anchored in a matrix of cement, glue, plastic or bitumen) and where the material is not weathered, you - under certain conditions and safety precautions - may remove the asbestos-containing application yourself and transport it to the recycling parc.

Starting 2025, a certificate will be required for the common spaces in an apartment building.
Asbestos inventory for common areas must be initiated by the manager or association of co-owners, not individual owners.

The asbestos certificate can be drawn up by certified and recognized experts. At Asbest Office, only certified asbestos experts carry out inspections and sampling. They have the proper training and recognition to prepare a correct certificate.

To request an asbestos certificate, you can do so digitally via our website. Fill in a short questionnaire, discuss your situation with us and we will make an appointment for inspection.