Paper lease or online lease: a choice with consequences
In Belgium, the primary residence lease is a regulated document. Each region (Brussels, Wallonia, Flanders) imposes its own annexes, mandatory mentions and templates. Drafting a correct lease on paper requires thorough knowledge of these rules, and the slightest error can render clauses unenforceable.
The online lease offers a modern alternative. By automating compliance, signature and archiving, it considerably reduces the risk of error. But paper also has its advocates. Let us look at the concrete differences.
Compliance and legal security
The three Belgian regions impose distinct rules. In Wallonia, the lease must contain the annex relating to habitability rules. In Brussels, the Brussels Housing Code imposes specific mentions. In Flanders, the Vlaams Woninghuurdecreet has its own requirements.
A compliant online lease automatically integrates these differences. The landlord selects the region and lease type, and the software generates a complete document with all required annexes. With a paper lease, you must download the correct annexes, verify their current version, and ensure none are missing.
For signatures, Belgian law fully recognises the qualified electronic signature via itsme or eID card. It even offers a higher level of security than handwritten signatures thanks to strong signer identification and certified timestamping.
Which format to choose?
For a Belgian landlord in 2026, the online lease has become the standard. It is not just about modernity: it is about compliance, speed and legal security. The paper lease remains legal, but it multiplies error risks in an increasingly complex legislative framework.
BailBelgique allows you to create a lease compliant with your region in minutes, have it signed via itsme or eID, and archive it securely. Try for free and see the difference.