Replacing an oil boiler in Belgium (2026): rules per region and prices
Short answer: Installing a new oil boiler has been banned in Brussels since 1 June 2025. In Flanders it is banned in new builds and major renovations since 2022, and in existing homes where natural gas is available. In Wallonia it is banned in new buildings since 1 January 2026 and in existing buildings from 1 January 2031. A working boiler can stay. Bobex price guide: condensing oil boiler €4,000–7,500, air-to-water heat pump €8,000–15,000.
Prices in this article are indicative Belgian market ranges, not Alpha Services Benelux's price list. Your fixed price is in the quote.
What are the rules per region in 2026?
It depends on where the home is. Brussels already bans placing a new oil boiler, Flanders ties the ban to new builds and gas availability, and Wallonia waits until 2031 for existing buildings. Nowhere do you have to remove a working boiler in 2026.
| Region | Installing or replacing an oil boiler | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Flanders | Banned in new builds and major energy renovations (permit applied for from 1 January 2022), even without a gas grid. In existing homes banned if gas is at your doorstep or across the road. Without gas nearby, replacement is still allowed. | Vlaanderen.be |
| Brussels | Since 1 June 2025 (installation date) oil boilers may no longer be placed, replacements included, unless a derogation is granted. | Brussels Environment |
| Wallonia | Banned in new buildings since 1 January 2026. In existing buildings banned from 1 January 2031, with derogations where alternatives are not technically, economically or functionally feasible. | L'Énergie en Wallonie (03.07.2026) |
Note for Flanders: a hybrid heat pump running on fuel oil or a boiler on biofuel still counts as fuel oil and falls under the ban.
What can you keep and have repaired?
Your existing oil boiler can keep running. No region requires you to remove a working installation in 2026, although maintenance and inspection rules apply.
- Flanders: you can keep using your current boiler "for the time being". Repairs or swapping a part such as the burner are allowed; a burner replacement needs an inspection under the Heating Devices Decree. Buying a house with an oil boiler does not oblige you to replace it.
- Brussels: existing boilers may stay in use, with annual PEB maintenance.
- Wallonia: replacement remains possible in existing buildings until 2031. Burner replacement stays allowed until 31 December 2034.
In Flanders, replacing the boiler body or the whole unit counts as a "replacement". Where gas is in the street, that is not allowed, even after a sudden irreparable breakdown.
What are the replacement options and what do they cost?
According to Bobex, a condensing oil boiler costs €4,000 to €7,500 installed and an air-to-water heat pump €8,000 to €15,000; other sources are in the table. Sources differ, so we list them separately.
| Option | Range | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Condensing oil boiler | €4,000–7,500 | Bobex |
| Condensing oil boiler | €4,500–8,000 | Prestatech |
| Condensing oil boiler (Wallonia, excl. VAT) | €4,000–6,000 | Les Pros de Maville |
| Full oil boiler replacement incl. flue and connections | €8,000–12,000 (incl. VAT) | Bobex |
| Gas condensing boiler | €3,000–6,000 | Prestatech |
| Pellet boiler | €12,000–20,000 (all-in) | Bobex |
| Air-to-water heat pump | €8,000–15,000 | Bobex |
| Air-to-water heat pump | €8,000–16,000 | Prestatech |
| Air-to-water heat pump (excl. VAT) | €12,000–18,000 | Les Pros de Maville |
| Hybrid: oil + heat pump | €10,000–15,000 | Bobex |
| Hybrid: gas + heat pump | €6,000–12,000 | Prestatech |
Not every source says whether VAT is included; always ask on the quote. An oil-based hybrid is no longer possible as a new installation in Flanders or Brussels. See our work on heating at our boiler and heating page.
What drives the price?
The flue, the existing radiators and the tank mostly decide whether you land at the low or high end. According to Bobex, the same model can differ by up to €2,000 between installers.
- Flue: a condensing boiler often needs an adapted flue; Prestatech estimates the extra cost at roughly €500 to €1,500.
- Tank: decommissioning an oil tank costs €500 to €1,500 according to Bobex. In Brussels specific procedures apply.
- Output and emitters: a heat pump works best at low temperatures; radiators or insulation can add work.
- Extras: thermostat, controls, hot water cylinder or buffer, removal of the old installation.
- Region: Les Pros de Maville reports price differences between Walloon provinces.
VAT and grants in brief
According to Vlaanderen.be, replacing a gas boiler or (where still allowed) an oil boiler has carried 21% VAT instead of 6% since 1 July 2025, while heat pumps stay at 6%. The conditions for 6% depend on the home and the works; have your contractor check them.
Grants and loans change often and differ per region. Use the official portal: vlaanderen.be in Flanders, Homegrade in Brussels and energie.wallonie.be in Wallonia. We deliberately give no amounts or conditions here.
Comparing quotes without surprises
Only compare quotes that cover the same scope. Start by finding out what your region and street still allow, then request at least two quotes per option.
- Have it confirmed whether gas is available at your home; in Flanders this decides what is allowed.
- Check whether the amount is incl. or excl. VAT and which rate is used.
- Ask whether flue, tank, removal of the old boiler, controls and commissioning are included.
- Have a professional assess whether your radiators and insulation suit a heat pump.
- In Brussels: ask about the PEB acceptance by an approved heating adviser within a month of commissioning.
Alpha Services Benelux does the work with its own team and issues a fixed written quote after a site visit. Prices on this page are market ranges, not a price list. See also our renovation page.
Fixed quote after a site visit
Alpha Services Benelux does the work with its own team, active since 2014. VAT BE 0541.320.178.
Request a quoteFrequently asked questions
When will oil boilers be banned in Belgium?
It depends on the region: Brussels since 1 June 2025 for installing new boilers, Flanders since 2022 for new builds and where gas is available, Wallonia in existing buildings from 1 January 2031. A working boiler may stay.
How much does a condensing oil boiler cost?
Price guides show €4,000 to €7,500 (Bobex) or €4,500 to €8,000 (Prestatech), installed. Bobex puts a full replacement including flue and connections at €8,000 to €12,000 incl. VAT.
Do I have to replace my existing oil boiler now?
No. No region requires you to remove a working oil boiler in 2026. Maintenance and inspection remain necessary, and if it fails, what you may install depends on your region and gas availability.
What are the alternatives to an oil boiler and what do they cost?
A gas condensing boiler costs €3,000 to €6,000 (Prestatech) but needs a gas connection and carries 21% VAT. An air-to-water heat pump costs €8,000 to €15,000 (Bobex) and suits well-insulated homes best.
How much does a pellet boiler cost?
Bobex gives €12,000 to €20,000 all-in for a pellet boiler. Also plan space to store the pellets. Grants depend on the region; check the official portal.
Can I install a hybrid heat pump with oil?
Not in Flanders: blending with fuel oil still counts as fuel oil, per Vlaanderen.be. In Brussels, placing an oil boiler is banned. A gas hybrid or an all-electric heat pump are the alternatives.
Sources
- Heating with fuel oil: what is still allowed and what is not? — Vlaanderen.be (Flemish government)
- Installer une chaudière dans un logement : quelles sont les exigences PEB ? — Bruxelles Environnement
- Stookolieketel verbod en nieuwe verwarmingsregels in Brussel in 2025 — Test-Aankoop
- Chaudières au mazout et au charbon : une transition progressive à partir de 2031 — L'Énergie en Wallonie (Région wallonne), published 03.07.2026
- Chaudière au mazout : prix par marque, entretien et remplacement en 2026 — Bobex
- Prix remplacement chaudière : guide complet Belgique — Prestatech (3 April 2026)
- Prix installation chaudière Wallonie 2026 : tarifs complets gaz, mazout et condensation — Les Pros de Maville (updated 24 Oct 2026)