Electrical · Updated on 2026-08-05

RGIE electrical inspection and compliance in Brussels

The RGIE is Belgium's general regulation for electrical installations. In Brussels, where many houses still run a 1960s or 1970s panel, it is the most common sticking point in a sale.

The essentials in 30 seconds

  • An RGIE inspection is mandatory when selling a home and for any new installation.
  • Inspection by an accredited body: €120–200 incl. VAT.
  • A negative report does not block the sale, but the buyer has 18 months to comply.
  • Bringing an old Brussels panel up to standard: €900–3,000 incl. VAT.

When is an inspection mandatory?

Three situations require an accredited inspection:

  • New installation or major extension, before Sibelga energises it.
  • Sale of a residential unit: the report goes to the notary.
  • Installation older than 25 years: periodic inspection required.

What the inspector checks

Safety, not aesthetics: presence and sensitivity of RCDs, cable cross-sections, earthing and its dispersion value, equipotential bonding in the bathroom, protection volumes, position and single-line diagrams.

Missing diagrams alone are a classic cause of a negative report. An electrician can redraw them for €150–350.

Negative report: what next?

A negative report does not block the sale. The buyer has 18 months to carry out the work and have the same body perform a compliance visit.

In Brussels practice the estimated cost of the work is often negotiated into the sale price, so a costed electrician's quote is worth far more than a rough guess.

What compliance costs

Indicative prices for an average Brussels home; 6% VAT if the property is over 10 years old.

  • Full distribution panel replacement: €900–1,800 incl. VAT
  • Adding a 30 mA RCD: €180–350 incl. VAT
  • Creating or repairing the earthing: €350–900 incl. VAT
  • Complete rewiring of a single-family house: €4,500–12,000 incl. VAT
  • Single-line and position diagrams: €150–350 incl. VAT

Pick an electrician who takes you to a positive report

LinkinTech excludes from matching any company that cannot produce its certificates: RGIE certification is verified on document, not merely declared. You get a line-by-line quote and support through to the re-inspection.

Frequently asked questions

Who performs the RGIE inspection?

An independent accredited body (Vinçotte, BTV, ACEG, AIB…), never the electrician who did the work. The electrician prepares the installation, the body validates it.

How long is an RGIE report valid?

25 years for a compliant domestic installation, unless significantly modified. A periodic inspection is then required.

Can I sell without an RGIE inspection in Brussels?

Not for a dwelling, unless the buyer is a professional demolishing or fully renovating, with an explicit clause in the deed.

Indicative prices incl. VAT, observed in Brussels. Only the company's quote is binding. LinkinTech connects you and does not carry out the work.

Need a verified tradesperson now?

Describe your problem in 2 minutes: you get a price range, an estimated arrival time and Brussels companies verified against the Crossroads Bank for Enterprises.

This question in your commune

Read next