Will digital leases be the norm by 2030?
Analysis of the trends pushing the property lease towards fully digital in Belgium. Electronic signature, MyRent registration, cloud archiving and legislative developments.
Where the digital lease stands in Belgium in 2026
In 2026, the digital lease is a growing reality but not yet dominant in Belgium. Electronic signatures via eID or itsme are recognised by the FPS Finance, registration via MyRent is operational and online drafting tools are multiplying.
Yet the majority of leases signed in Belgium remain paper documents. According to sector estimates, approximately 25 to 30% of new leases are signed electronically in 2026, compared to less than 10% in 2022. The progression is rapid, but the shift is not yet complete.
The rate of electronically signed leases doubles every two years. If this trend continues, the digital lease will become the majority between 2028 and 2030.
The forces pushing towards the digital lease
Government digitalisation policy
Belgium is pursuing its Digital Belgium strategy, which aims to digitalise all interactions between citizens and the administration. MyRent, eBox (official digital mail), itsme and CSAM (authentication) form an ecosystem that makes the digital lease a natural step.
Mass adoption of itsme
With over 7 million active users in Belgium in 2026, itsme has become the standard for digital identification. The ability to sign a lease in seconds via smartphone, without a card reader or travel, is a decisive argument.
Operational advantages
| Advantage | Paper lease | Digital lease |
|---|---|---|
| Signing time | 1-5 days (appointment) | A few hours |
| FPS registration | 2-4 weeks (post) | Immediate (MyRent) |
| Archiving | Physical binder | Secure cloud |
| Information search | Manual | Instant |
| Sharing with accountant/lawyer | Photocopy/scan | Share link |
Tenant pressure
Tenants under 35, who represent a growing share of the market, expect digital processes. A landlord who offers a paper lease with an in-person signing appointment appears disconnected compared to one who sends an e-mail signing link.
Persistent barriers
The digital divide
Approximately 10% of the Belgian population does not have a smartphone and 15% does not regularly use the internet. For these people, the paper lease remains the only accessible format. This reality requires maintaining a paper option, at least on a transitional basis.
Legal mistrust
Some landlords and lawyers remain distrustful of electronic signatures. The fear of contestation (“it was not me who signed”) or document tampering persists, despite the technical safeguards (certificates, timestamps, encryption).
Conservatism in the property sector
Real estate agencies and property managers, who are important intermediaries, have not all made their digital transition. Some continue to work with paper forms out of habit or lack of investment in digital tools.
The transition to the digital lease will not be a big bang but a gradual evolution. Landlords who adopt it now gain an advantage in terms of efficiency and compliance.
The likely scenario for 2030
The digital lease as standard, paper as the exception
By 2030, the most likely scenario is that the digital lease will become the default format, without paper being formally banned. Specifically:
- Online registration via MyRent will probably be the only accepted channel in Flanders (announced for 2028)
- Regional annexes will be generated and attached automatically by drafting platforms
- The digital inventory will become the norm, with automatic entry/exit comparison
- Payment tracking will be integrated into the digital lease, with automatic alerts
Expected developments
- Interoperability: lease platforms will be able to communicate directly with MyRent, banks (rental deposit) and EPC certifiers
- Artificial intelligence: detection of abusive clauses, rent amount suggestions, rental risk analysis
- Tenant portal: personal space where the tenant can access their lease, receipts and intervention requests
To compare existing lease formats, see our comparison paper lease vs digital lease.
How to prepare now
Whether the digital lease becomes mandatory or simply dominant, landlords have every interest in starting the transition now:
- Sign your next leases online: use a compliant tool like BailBelgique which generates a digital lease with electronic signature and regional annexes
- Register via MyRent: abandon postal mail for registration
- Digitise your existing leases: scan and archive current paper leases, even though the originals remain the legal reference
- Adopt a management tool: digital rental management integrates the lease, payments, documents and deadlines in a single space
- Educate yourself: familiarise yourself with itsme and eID if you have not already done so
The digital lease is not a revolution to come: it is an evolution already underway. Landlords who adopt it today gain in efficiency, compliance and attractiveness to tenants.
Frequently asked questions
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To date, no legislation imposes the digital lease as the exclusive format. However, the progressive digitalisation of public services (MyRent, eBox, itsme) and European initiatives in digital transformation are converging towards a generalisation of the digital format. Flanders is considering making online registration mandatory by 2028. Paper will probably remain an accepted format, but increasingly marginal.
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A primary residence lease does not require a notarial deed. The itsme signature is a qualified electronic signature within the meaning of the eIDAS regulation, giving it the same legal value as a handwritten signature. It is therefore perfectly valid for a rental lease. A notarial deed is only required for very long-term commercial leases (more than 9 years) or emphyteutic leases.
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This is an important digital inclusion issue. Current solutions remain accessible: itsme works on a smartphone without advanced technical skills, and the CPAS offers digital support. Moreover, the paper lease will probably remain legal. The transition will be gradual, with hybrid solutions (paper signature scanned and registered online) so as not to exclude less digitalised populations.
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