List of approved property valuers in Belgium: how to find an official expert?

Anyone dealing with an inheritance, a donation or a division of assets in Belgium will often hear about the list of approved property valuers recognised by the relevant tax authority. An official valuation is a formal assessment of a property's value that is accepted by the competent regional tax administration - such as VLABEL in Flanders, SPW Fiscalité in Wallonia, or Bruxelles Fiscalité in Brussels - in files involving inheritance tax or gifts. Such a valuation must be carried out by a valuation expert who is officially approved and appears on the official list. That is why it is important to know where to find these approved valuers and how to choose the right expert.

What is an approved property valuer?

An approved property valuer is a real-estate expert officially recognised by the competent regional tax authority to carry out binding valuations for matters such as estate administration, fiscal assessments and asset divisions.

• The valuer must demonstrate that they are professionally active in property valuation.
• They must meet strict quality and formal requirements (quality charter).
• Valuation reports are drawn up according to fixed guidelines so that the tax authority accepts the stated value.

Such an approved report gives heirs and other parties involved greater certainty that the declared value will be accepted.

Is there an official list of approved valuers?

The tax authority maintains a register of approved valuers, but it is not simply a public list available for download on their website. In practice:

• notaries, tax advisers and valuers themselves can check whether someone is approved;
• various offices and platforms refer to approved valuers who appear on the official list;
• approved valuers often explicitly mention their approval number on their website.

In addition, there are online directories and search platforms that publish lists of approved valuers by region, based on public data and in collaboration with the relevant experts.

Where can you find an approved property valuer?

You can find a valuer in several ways:

• Through specialist platforms that explicitly display a list of approved property valuers, often with a filter by municipality or province.
• Through the websites of real-estate or surveying firms that publish their approved valuers and approval numbers.
• Through a notary, who can refer you to experts they know to be approved.

It is important to always check that the valuer explicitly states that they are approved by the competent tax authority, ideally with an approval number.

Why does the list of approved valuers matter?

A valuation carried out by an approved expert offers several clear advantages:

• The established value is in principle binding on the tax authority in the relevant file (for example an estate).
• You reduce the risk of disputes, additional checks or penalties for undervalued assets.
• The valuation can be used in multiple contexts (inheritance, divorce, contribution to a company, gift...).
• Banks, notaries and courts often recognise this type of report as a reliable reference document.

Without an approved valuer, you run a greater risk of uncertainty as to whether the declared property value will be accepted.

What should you look for when choosing an approved valuer?

When going through a list of approved property valuers, you can look out for the following:

• Approval statement: does the expert clearly state that they are approved, with an approval number?
• Region and specialisation: are they familiar with your type of property (house, apartment, investment property, commercial premises, agricultural land...)?
• Experience and references: how long have they been active and what do they communicate about their work?
• Transparent working method and fees: is it clear what a valuation involves and what you will pay?
• Objectivity: do they work independently, rather than as a party-appointed expert in a dispute?

A good valuer combines official approval with local market knowledge and a clear, well-substantiated report.

In summary

If you are looking for the list of approved property valuers in Belgium, you are in practice looking for a group of experts officially recognised by the competent regional tax authority - whether in Flanders, Wallonia or Brussels - who can generally be found through specialist platforms, notaries and surveying firms. By working with such an approved valuer, you increase the likelihood that the tax administration will accept the assessed value of your property or other real estate without dispute.

Good luck!