Choosing a renovation contractor in Belgium: what to check

The choice of contractor matters more to the success of a renovation than the choice of materials. The good news: most checks take a few minutes and are free. Here they are, in order.

1. Look the company up in the Crossroads Bank for Enterprises

Every Belgian company has a company number (BCE/KBO). On the public BCE/KBO website you can see in two minutes when it was founded, its registered address, whether it is active and the activities it has declared.

Red flag: no company number on the quote, a company set up last week for a large job, or an address you can't find.

2. Check the VAT number

The VAT number must appear on the quote and the invoices. It is also what gives you access to 6% VAT for renovating a home over 10 years old: no contractor invoice, no reduced rate.

3. Professional competence

Basic business management knowledge is no longer required to become self-employed (in Flanders since 2018, in Brussels since January 2024, in Wallonia since October 2025). However, in Brussels and Wallonia several building trades (structural work, roofing, tiling, plastering, joinery…) must still prove their professional competence. Registered activities appear in the BCE/KBO.

4. Insurance

Ask for a certificate, not a promise:

• Professional liability: covers damage caused during the works (water damage at the neighbours', a dropped object…).
• Ten-year liability insurance (Peeters-Borsus law): since 1 July 2018 it is compulsory for work on a dwelling that requires an architect. It covers serious damage to solidity, stability or watertightness for ten years.
• Contractor's all risks: useful on large projects, it covers damage to the works while they are under way.

5. A detailed, itemised quote

A good quote describes each item (demolition, plumbing, electrics, tiling…), the quantities, the materials or their range, what is excluded and the VAT rate applied. A one-line quote "bathroom renovation: €14,000" lets you neither compare nor dispute.

Compare two or three quotes, but on the same scope: the cheapest one often leaves out an item that comes back later as an extra.

6. Deposit and payments

There is no single rule for deposits on renovation work, but one principle protects both sides: pay as the work actually progresses. A reasonable deposit covers ordering specific materials; be wary of a large payment before any work starts, especially in cash.

7. Contract and schedule

Before starting, put in writing: the price and what it covers, the start date and expected duration, payment terms, how extra work is handled (always a written, priced amendment before it's done) and the handover.

8. References

Ask for photos of recent jobs and, if possible, the contact of a former client. Online reviews are useful, especially when the company replies to them.

Red flags

• No written quote, or a quote with no detail
• Pressure to "sign today to get this price"
• Large cash payment before starting
• No insurance certificate
• A price far below every other quote with no explanation

At CULA

CULA is registered with the BCE/KBO under number 0786.665.743 (verifiable online), provides a quote itemised by trade and answers all these questions before you sign. Free visit and quote within 48 hours: request your quote.