Flemish Energy and Climate Plan amended: new rules for VMEs

The Flemish Energy and Climate Plan (VEKP) sets out how the Flemish government wants to achieve a 40% emission reduction. This plan has a huge impact on the real estate sector and was recently updated with important new measures that have direct consequences for apartment buildings and Associations of Co-Owners (VMEs).

From 2030, a minimum building label will be mandatory for the entire apartment building, regardless of sale or rental. Which label that will be exactly is not yet definitively decided, but it means that all buildings must meet certain energy standards within a few years. This will be an important driver for renovations in existing apartment buildings.

The updated plan provides significantly more support for apartment buildings:

• The Mijn VerbouwPremie is more favorable for apartment buildings from July 2025
• There are higher premiums for common parts: for renovation of the common roof, the premium amount has been doubled
• Minister Depraetere is working on a new premium for collective heat pumps
• When switching from a common oil or gas boiler to a heat pump, there is a specific premium

The goal of these financial stimuli is to make investments more affordable and accelerate the renovation pace.

The VEKP provides fixed support for renovation master plans, with emphasis on free choice of study office. In addition, research is being done on how the supply of private loans for VMEs can be expanded and how the thresholds at banks can be lowered. This could mean less strict requirements or lower credit insurance costs for apartment buildings.

Work is being done on a possible modernization of the maintenance obligation of heating appliances. The focus will mainly be on accelerated phasing out of unsafe or inefficient appliances. Information about this will become more accessible via housing pass and building pass, which simplifies management for property managers.

The VEKP points to an interesting fiscal incentive from Antwerp: owners of fossil-free buildings (that switch to heat pump or heat network) are exempt from municipal surcharges for 6 years. This can help to get a majority faster within VMEs for collective investments in sustainable heating.

For Associations of Co-Owners, the updated VEKP means both opportunities and obligations:

More financial support makes renovations more feasible, but minimum building labels will make renovations necessary. There is better access to loans and clear information via housing pass, while specific premiums for common heat pumps make collective investments more attractive.

In the coming years, we will see measures appearing at a rapid pace. Major benchmarks such as the Flemish Energy and Climate Plan are guiding in this. For VMEs, it is important to anticipate these changes in time and make use of the available support.

Good preparation starts with a renovation master plan and exploring financing options. By investing early in energy-efficient measures, VMEs can not only meet future obligations, but also benefit from favorable premiums and tax advantages.

Source: [CIB Syndic 25-09-2025]