Do I have to have my fuel oil tank inspected before I sell my home?

Do I have to have my fuel oil tank inspected before I sell my home?

It is a legal requirement to have your fuel oil tank inspected regularly since storing fuel oil can cause pollution. To date, there is no legal requirement to have your fuel oil tank inspected when you sell your home. But since it is legally required to have an inspection carried out before the first use and thereafter (depending on the type of tank) every so often, the seller will usually be in possession of a certificate.

If you do not have an inspection certificate when you want to sell your house, you have two options.

- You can have the tank inspected before the sale

- You do not have the tank inspected and then the buyer is obliged to have the tank inspected.

Attention! It is recommended to have your fuel oil tank inspected yourself to avoid discussions about soil contamination, etc.

Who inspects the fuel oil tank?

The inspection is done by a certified fuel oil technician. The following elements will be the subject of the inspection:

- Is there contamination outside the tank? 

- Is the overfill protection working?

- Is the leak detection system working?

- Are the pipes ok?

Not ok? If so, have the necessary repairs made to comply with the fuel oil tank regulations and then reapply for an inspection.

If everything is in order, you will receive a certificate of inspection in conformity and a green plate. This plate is placed near the filler neck of your tank. In this way the supplier can immediately see whether your tank is compliant or not when he comes to fill it up.

Inspection before first use

When the fuel oil tank is installed, it is a legal requirement in Flanders to have it inspected before it is used for the first time. If the content of the tank is 5,000 liters or more, you must report this to the municipal executive. If the content is more than 20,000 liters, an environmental permit must be applied for before the tank can be installed. (Depending on the substance that will be stored in it)

How often must the fuel oil tank be inspected?

Every how often your fuel oil tank must be inspected depends on the volume of the tank and where it is located. 

- A fuel oil tank of < 5.000 liters that is situated underground must be inspected every 5 years.

- A fuel oil tank of < 5.000 liters located above ground and which was used for the first time after March 1, 2009, is not required to be inspected every few years.

- A fuel oil tank of > 5.000 liters located underground must be lightly inspected every 2 years and thoroughly inspected every 15 years

- A fuel oil tank > 5,000 liters located above ground must be lightly inspected every 3 years.

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