Hiring an electrician for your renovation in Belgium: 10 questions to ask before the quote
Short answer: Before you accept a quote, ask whether the electrician works to AREI/RGIE, who arranges the inspection by an approved body, how non-conformities are priced separately, whether the fuse board stays and whether an EV charger gets its own circuit and the right residual-current device. A new or heavily modified installation is inspected before use, then every 25 years for a home.
Prices in this article are indicative Belgian market ranges, not Alpha Services Benelux's price list. Your fixed price is in the quote.
What the rules say: when is an inspection required?
A new or significantly modified installation must be inspected by an approved body before it is put into use; for homes a periodic inspection follows every 25 years. AREI (Dutch) and RGIE (French) are one and the same regulation. The current Book 1 for low voltage rests on the Royal Decree of 8 September 2019, in force since 1 June 2020; a Royal Decree of 6 October 2025 adds rules for direct current from 1 April 2026.
| Situation | What the sources say |
|---|---|
| New installation or major change (extra circuits, new board, EV charger, solar panels, battery) | Conformity check by an approved body before use (chapter 6.4) |
| Existing home, no changes | Periodic inspection every 25 years (chapter 6.5); 5 years for non-domestic |
| Sale of a home with an installation from before 1 October 1981 | Inspection visit on sale (chapter 8.4); the buyer brings it into order afterwards. Installations from after 1981: a valid inspection report is needed on sale; ask the inspection body to confirm whether a new visit is required. |
| Temporary site board | Inspection by an approved body before first use, then an annual visit while the installation stays in service (Atlas Contrôle) |
Only a body approved by the FPS Economy and accredited by BELAC may issue the report. Your electrician carries out the work but does not sign off on their own installation.
Questions 1 to 3: compliance and inspection
First ask whether the electrician works to AREI/RGIE and who arranges the inspection. Without an inspection report you have no proof of compliance towards your insurer, the grid operator or a future buyer.
- Do you work to AREI/RGIE, and will an approved body inspect the result? Have the answer written into the quote.
- Who books the inspection, and is it in the quote? Is it included, or a separate cost for you? The amount depends on the body and the size of the installation, so ask for it explicitly.
- Will I receive the single-line diagram and the inspection report? The installer draws up the diagram and it must be present at the inspection.
Questions 4 and 5: get non-conformities priced separately
Ask for the repair of existing defects to appear as its own line, apart from the renovation work itself. In a renovation it is often the inspection that reveals what was not in order before.
- What happens if the inspection finds infringements? The report lists the points to correct; a further visit then confirms the repairs.
- Is fixing existing defects a separate quote or a separate line item? That way you see what belongs to the project and what stems from the old state.
On a sale, deadlines apply to the buyer: according to inspection bodies (Certinergie, art. 8.4.2), 18 months for installations from before 1981 and 12 months for the others. Ask the inspection body to confirm this for your case. More: electrical installation not compliant: what next?
Questions 6 and 7: the fuse board
Ask whether the existing board stays or is replaced, and why. An extra circuit, an EV charger or a heat pump needs space and protection that an old board does not always offer.
- Are you keeping the existing board or replacing it? Have the reason written down, for example lack of space or outdated protection.
- Which circuits and residual-current devices will go in, and is there spare capacity? Ask for a circuit list that matches the single-line diagram.
For price ranges on replacing a board, see fuse box replacement cost in Belgium.
Questions 8 and 9: a home EV charger
A home charger needs its own circuit with the right residual-current protection and must be inspected before use. Adding one counts as a major change to the installation.
| Item | What to ask |
|---|---|
| Dedicated circuit | Own cable and breaker from the board; no connection to an existing socket or shared circuit (AREI 7.22) |
| Residual-current device | Type B, or type A with DC residual-current detection (RDC-DD); if the charger has built-in detection, have the inspector confirm what suffices |
| Earthing system | For new charger circuits TN-C has been banned since 1 April 2026 (Atlas Contrôle, AREI amendment by Royal Decree of 6 October 2025) |
| Inspection | Report from an approved body before first use |
| Grid operator | In Flanders: private chargers of 5 kVA or more must be notified via Mijn Fluvius within 3 months of the inspection (late notification can bring administrative costs, according to Fluvius). In Brussels and Wallonia: ask your grid operator (Sibelga, ORES or RESA). |
- Which circuit, cable and residual-current device will you use for the charger?
- Who handles the inspection and the notification to the grid operator? Agree beforehand who files the notification and keep the inspection report.
What drives the cost of the electrical part?
Cost depends mainly on the size of the existing installation and on what the inspection uncovers. We deliberately give no figures here: sources differ widely and prices vary from home to home.
- Number of circuits and points that are new or moved.
- Board: kept, extended or replaced.
- Condition of existing wiring and earthing, and access (open or closed walls).
- Extra loads: EV charger, heat pump, solar panels or battery, each with its own inspection rules.
- Repairs after the inspection and the follow-up re-inspection.
Comparing electricians therefore requires the same starting assumptions; see also our electrician page.
Question 10: compare quotes without surprises
Only compare quotes that cover the same items: circuit list, board, inspection, re-inspection and a repair line. A quote without an inspection is often not comparable with one that includes it.
- What is included, and what is explicitly excluded? Ask for a fixed written quote after a site visit and have exclusions noted.
- Is the inspection included, and who pays for a re-inspection?
- Is fixing existing defects a separate line?
- Is the single-line diagram supplied?
- What is the schedule: when does the inspection happen relative to the other trades?
Alpha Services Benelux (active since 2014) works with its own team and carries out electrical work to AREI/RGIE; the quote is a fixed written price after a site visit. See our renovation page for how projects run. Prices in our guides are market ranges, not a price list.
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
Is an inspection compulsory after rewiring or a renovation?
Yes. A new or significantly modified installation (added circuits, new board, EV charger, solar panels, battery) is inspected by an approved body before use. After that, a home installation is inspected every 25 years.
Can my electrician carry out the inspection?
No. Only a body approved by the FPS Economy and accredited by BELAC issues the report. The electrician does the work and can arrange the appointment with the body if the quote says so.
What if the inspection finds infringements?
The report lists the points to fix, and a further visit confirms the repairs. On a sale, inspection bodies cite 18 months (installations from before 1981) or 12 months for the buyer. Ask for a separate line item for the repairs.
Which residual-current device does an EV charger need?
According to inspection bodies: type B, or type A with DC residual-current detection (RDC-DD), on its own circuit (AREI 7.22). If the charger detects DC itself, have the inspector confirm what suffices. For new charger circuits, TN-C has been banned since 1 April 2026.
Do I have to notify the grid operator about a home charger?
In Flanders, a private charger of 5 kVA or more must be notified via Mijn Fluvius within 3 months of the inspection; according to Fluvius, late notification can bring administrative costs. In Brussels and Wallonia, ask your grid operator (Sibelga, ORES or RESA). Agree with your installer who files the notification.
Sources
- AREI/RGIE Boek 1 – installaties op laagspanning en zeer lage spanning (consolidated text) — FOD Economie / SPF Économie
- BELAC accreditation scope for inspection bodies (AREI Book 1, Part 6 and chapter 8.4) — FOD Economie / BELAC
- Elektrische installaties en AREI — FOD Werkgelegenheid / SPF Emploi
- Contrôle électrique pour la vente d'une maison : guide complet 2026 — Atlas Contrôle (accredited inspection body)
- Werf of tijdelijke installatie: de verplichte keuringen — Atlas Contrôle (accredited inspection body)
- Meldingsplicht private laadpaal elektrische wagen — Fluvius
- Zonnepanelen, laadpalen en thuisbatterijen verplicht aanmelden — Fluvius
- Laadpaal voor elektrische auto: keuring verplicht in België — Atlas Contrôle (accredited inspection body)
- AREI: Algemeen Reglement op de Elektrische Installaties in België — Atlas Contrôle (accredited inspection body)
- Réglementation RGIE – Contrôle électrique — Certinergie (inspection body)
- Elektrische keuring: wie mag installatie keuren in België? — Elektramat