A quote that does not comply with Belgian legal mentions exposes the pro to a VAT reassessment, an administrative fine, and an increased risk of a customer dispute. For private individuals, it is also red flag number one on the pro's quality. Here is the list of the 7 mentions to check on every construction quote in Belgium in 2026.
1. Full identification of the contractor
What must appear
- Exact corporate name (as registered at the BCE)
- Legal form (SRL, SA, SNC, individual self-employed)
- Address of the registered office
- BCE company number (format BE 0XXX.XXX.XXX)
- VAT number if VAT-registered (format BE0XXXXXXXXX)
- Professional phone and email
Why it matters
Without these mentions, the customer has no way to verify the legal existence of the company on the BCE. A signature on an incomplete quote is legally fragile in case of dispute.
2. Identification of the customer
What must appear
For a private individual:
- First name and surname
- Full address
- Phone (recommended)
- Email (for electronic signature)
For a professional customer (B2B):
- Corporate name
- BCE number
- VAT number
- Office address
Special case: different works address
If the works are not at the customer's home address, also state the exact site address. Important for the "dwelling" status check (VAT 6%) and for the connection obligation (heavy renovation > €30,000: obligation to notify neighbours via a sign).
3. Detailed description of the works
What must appear
For each line of the quote:
- Precise description (not "bathroom renovation" but "removal of existing tiling 12 m², haul-away, laying of new 60×60 tiling supplied by customer")
- Quantity with unit (m², lm, h, lump sum)
- Unit price ex VAT
- Total ex VAT for the line
The trap of vague descriptions
A "labour all trades" line for €5,400 cannot be enforced. The customer can invoke the lack of detail to contest in case of disagreement. Conversely, a precise line locks the contract.
Batizzy tip
Our quote editor enforces a description >20 characters and an explicit unit. It is impossible to generate a vague quote.
4. VAT mentions
What must appear
- Subtotal ex VAT
- VAT rate applied (6%, 12% or 21%)
- VAT amount
- Total incl VAT
Specific mentions by situation
Rate 6% (renovation of dwelling +10 years):
"VAT at 6% pursuant to no. XXXVIII of table A of the annex to royal decree no. 20 of 20.07.1970. Failing written contestation within one month from receipt of the invoice, the customer is deemed to acknowledge that the conditions for application of the reduced rate are met."
Cocontractor (B2B):
"Reverse charge. Cocontractor. VAT to be paid by the recipient."
Small business with VAT exemption:
"VAT exemption regime, art. 56 bis of the VAT Code."
See our article 6% VAT in Belgium conditions for the details.
5. Payment terms
What must appear
- Schedule (deposit, intermediate payment, balance)
- Amount or percentage of each instalment
- Accepted payment methods (transfer, cheque, cash within the legal €3,000 limit)
- Payment deadline (typically 30 days)
- Late penalties if applicable (rate not exceeding the Belgian commercial legal rate)
Best practices
- Deposit: 20 to 30% on signature, never more
- Intermediate payment: on material delivery or mid-job
- Balance: on completion, after inspection
A pro asking 50% deposit is a red flag. A pro refusing any deposit on a large job signals financial fragility.
6. Quote validity period
Why it is mandatory
In Belgium, a quote with no validity period remains legally enforceable on the pro for at least 1 year. To protect against material price swings, every serious pro caps the validity of their quote.
Practical standard
- Simple quote: 30 days
- Complex quote with phasing: 60 days
- Quote with imported materials: 90 days, with revision clause
Standard mention
"This quote is valid for 30 days from the issue date. Beyond this period, the contractor reserves the right to revise prices according to the evolution of material costs."
7. Legal mention of remedies and mediation
What must appear
Since the law of April 4, 2014 on consumer protection, every B2C quote must mention:
- The right of withdrawal for contracts signed at distance or off-premises (14 days)
- The competent consumer mediation service: Consumentenombudsdienst / Service de Médiation pour le Consommateur
- The address: Boulevard du Roi Albert II, 8 box 1 - 1000 Brussels
- The website: www.consumentenombudsdienst.be
This mention alone is enough to avoid a fine of €800 to €5,000 in case of inspection.
On-site contracting case
For a quote drawn up at the customer's premises (and therefore "off-premises"), the 14-day withdrawal period applies automatically. The pro must provide a standard withdrawal form. Most pros forget this point. A customer who signs at home and changes their mind within 14 days can exercise their right, and the pro cannot demand a deposit.
On Batizzy, our quote editor automatically detects the context (distance, off-premises, in office) and adds the appropriate mention.
Bonus: 3 optional but recommended mentions
1. Provisions and force majeure
"In cases of force majeure (persistent bad weather, material unavailability due to crisis, accident on site), execution deadlines are extended by the duration of the force majeure event."
2. Retention of pre-job photos
"The customer authorises the contractor to take photos before and after the works for their professional portfolio and possible dispute resolution."
3. Ten-year warranty (structural works only)
"The structural works covered by this contract are guaranteed for 10 years against any construction defect, in accordance with article 1792 of the Belgian Civil Code."
How Batizzy automates all this
Our quote editor natively integrates:
- BCE and VAT pre-filled from the verified pro profile
- Automatic detection of the VAT rate based on conditions
- Corresponding legal VAT mention auto-generated
- Configurable validity period (30 days by default)
- Mediation and withdrawal mentions included
- Unified format that enforces description precision
The pro saves 25 minutes per quote and their quotes are 100% compliant. Start as a verified pro.