The spreadsheet: universal tool but not specialised
Excel (or Google Sheets) is the default tool for millions of landlords. Rent tracking in one tab, indexation calculation in another, document list in a third. It is flexible, free, and everyone knows how to use it.
But Belgian rental management is not simple bookkeeping. Three regions with distinct legislation, a monthly health index, mandatory annexes that change, signature and registration obligations. Excel knows nothing about any of this. Every formula, every verification, every update is the landlord’s responsibility.
Signals it is time to switch
Signal 1: you have more than 2 properties. Managing two Excel tabs is feasible. Five tabs with different indexation dates, different regions and different tenants become a headache.
Signal 2: you have made an indexation error. The Belgian indexation calculation is precise: you need the correct base index, the correct current index and the correct anniversary date. An error can be challenged by the tenant and lead to reimbursement.
Signal 3: you have missed a deadline. End of lease, renewal, annual indexation, SPF Finances registration. If a deadline has slipped, your tracking system is insufficient.
Signal 4: you spend too much time. If administrative management takes more than 2 hours per month per property, software can divide this time by 5.
Our recommendation
Excel has served generations of landlords, but it was not designed for Belgian rental management. Legal risks and time lost quickly exceed the savings on a dedicated software subscription.
BailBelgique gives you everything Excel cannot: automatic compliance with three regions, official indexation, itsme/eID signature and real-time payment tracking. Try for free and retire your spreadsheet.