My landlord enters my home without warning: how I put a stop to the intrusions

January 2025 — the suspicions

I have been renting a 1-bedroom apartment on the 2nd floor of a building in Schaerbeek since September 2024. Rent: 850 EUR including charges. My landlord, Mr Janssens, 62, lives on the ground floor of the same building. He owns all 4 apartments. A residential lease of 3-6-9.

On 12 January, coming home from work, I found an object moved in my living room. A photo frame I always place to the right of the TV was on the left. Paranoid? Perhaps. But on 19 January, the same scenario: my shoes in the hallway were arranged differently, and a smell of tobacco hung in the corridor — I do not smoke.

Doubt set in. Mr Janssens has a spare set of keys, provided at the signing of the lease “in case of emergency.” I began to wonder whether he was entering my apartment while I was at work.

January-February 2025 — the evidence

On 25 January, I bought a connected indoor camera for 89 EUR. Discreet, placed on a living room shelf, it sends me a notification on my phone with every motion detection.

On 28 January, at 2:12 pm, notification: Mr Janssens enters my apartment with his spare keys. He stays 7 minutes. He checks the living room radiator, opens the kitchen window, then leaves. No emergency. No warning. No consent from me.

On 9 February, second filmed visit: 11 minutes. This time, he inspects the bathroom and the water meter. Again without warning.

February 2025 — the confrontation

On 10 February, I sent a formal notice by registered letter to Mr Janssens. Firm tone, precise facts:

• Two filmed intrusions (dates, times, durations)
• Reminder of Article 15 of the Constitution and Article 439 of the Penal Code (trespass)
• Demand for immediate cessation
• Announcement of lock change
• Mention of the possibility of filing a complaint if the intrusions continued

Mr Janssens called me on 12 February, defensive: “I was just checking that everything was fine in the apartment, it is my property after all.” I calmly explained that no, during the lease, it is my home, not his property. He can inspect the property, but only with my prior agreement and on a date agreed together.

On 18 February, I had the lock changed by a locksmith. Cost: 145 EUR. I kept the old lock to reinstall at the end of the lease.

March 2025 — the resolution

On 1 March, Mr Janssens proposed a meeting. He acknowledged his wrongs and apologised. He explained that he had always done this with his previous tenants, that nobody had ever complained. “That’s how I’ve been doing it for 20 years.”

We signed a written agreement on 15 March:

• Mr Janssens undertakes not to enter without my prior written consent (text message, email)
• For technical visits (boiler, meters), a minimum of 48 hours’ notice is required
• I undertake to facilitate access for legitimately necessary interventions
• In case of emergency (leak, fire), the building manager is authorised to access with the spare keys held by the building manager — not by Mr Janssens

Since this agreement, no intrusions. The lease was supplemented by this addendum, and relations have returned to normal.

What I learned

This experience reminded me that knowing your rights means being able to enforce them. Three lessons:

1. Trust your intuition. If something seems out of place in your home, it probably is. A 89 EUR camera gave me irrefutable evidence in 2 weeks.

2. The inviolability of the home is non-negotiable. Many landlords genuinely believe they have the right to enter “their property.” This is wrong. The lease transfers exclusive enjoyment of the property to the tenant. The landlord loses their right of access.

3. A registered letter before a complaint. I could have filed a complaint directly (trespass is a criminal offence). But the formal notice was sufficient. A credible threat is more effective than the proceedings themselves in 90% of cases.

For other tenant testimonials: My landlord will not make repairs, My landlord refuses to return the deposit and My landlord wants to increase charges retroactively.