FURTHER EXPLANATION · 2 MIN READ
An existing obligation with an approaching deadline
This is background to the OVAM reminder of 23 June 2026, not news of a newly introduced obligation. For an association of co-owners of an apartment building from before 2001, an asbestos certificate for the common areas must be available by 31 December 2026 at the latest. The Flemish explanation refers to the land registry for the construction year.
Common areas include, for example, the entrance hall, stairwell, lift and cellar that belong to the co-ownership. Exactly which parts are common must be verified for each specific building. The certificate for the private apartment and that for the common areas therefore do not cover the same subject. File both documents separately in your sales dossier.
What can you ask the syndicus today?
First ask whether the certificate already exists. If not, ask if an expert has been appointed, when the site inspection will take place, and how access to the common areas will be arranged. Vlaanderen.be describes a practical procedure: verify the construction year, discuss the obligation with the syndicus or VME, request quotes, plan the investigation, and provide the report to the co-owners.
An oral statement that asbestos was checked once is not the same as the required certificate. Request the document itself and verify if it concerns the correct parts of the building. As a co-owner, you do not need to identify or sample materials yourself. The inventory is part of the assignment of a certified asbestos expert.
A recognisable sales example
You want to sell an apartment dating from 1985 and already have the private asbestos certificate. The syndicus informs you that the investigation of the common areas still needs to take place. It is therefore useful to compare the sales schedule and the timing of that investigation immediately. OVAM warns that the absence of a common certificate from 2027 onwards may cause problems during a sale.
A certificate provides information about the materials present and their condition, not a general guarantee that every material is asbestos-free. It also does not automatically replace an inspection that may be required for planned works. Discuss technical questions about the inventory with the expert. Ask in advance what will be examined, what the quote covers, and what information the expert needs.
Gather the documents before you sell
Keep the private certificate, the certificate for the common areas, and relevant communication from the syndicus in one place. Notariaat Wellens reviews which documents are necessary for your sale and what questions about the co-ownership remain open. Planning a sale? Provide us with these documents so that missing information can be followed up in time with the right parties.