Lease agreement Brussels: PDF template and guide 2026

Specificities of the Brussels lease

The Brussels lease has distinct features compared with the Walloon and Flemish regimes.

Indicative rent grid

The Brussels-Capital Region has introduced an indicative rent grid that can be consulted online. It benchmarks the requested rent against the local market. The grid is not binding, but it can be invoked before the court in the event of a dispute.

Mandatory annexes

A Brussels lease agreement must be accompanied by several annexes:

• Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) of the property.
• Detailed inventory of fixtures upon entry.
• Brussels explanatory annex.
• Rules for the apportionment of charges.

Energy rules

Since 2023, the Region has restricted rent indexation based on the energy performance of the property. The least energy-efficient dwellings (EPC E, F or G) have their indexation limited or even prohibited. See the details on rent indexation in Brussels.

Mandatory clauses of a Brussels lease

A valid Brussels lease agreement must contain the following clauses:

• Full identity of the landlord and tenant.
• Precise description of the property (address, floor area, number of rooms).
• Monthly rent amount, excluding and including charges.
• Payment method and date.
• Lease duration and commencement date.
• Security deposit amount and terms.
• Annual indexation clause.
• Termination conditions.
• Mandatory annexes (EPC, inventory of fixtures, explanatory annex).

A lease lacking these clauses may be reclassified by the justice of the peace.

Lease types in Brussels

Several types of contracts exist in Brussels. Here are the main ones.

Primary residence lease

This is the most common lease. The 9-year lease is the standard duration, but 3 or 6-year leases also exist (3-6-9 lease). It forms the baseline framework for standard Brussels residential leases.

Short-term lease

The short-term lease cannot exceed 3 years. It is suited to temporary lettings: job relocation, transitional period, interim accommodation.

Long-term lease

The long-term lease exceeds 9 years. Less common, it offers maximum stability to the tenant.

Student lease

Lasting 12 renewable months, the student lease is tailored to the Brussels academic calendar. It cannot be indexed during its initial term.

Shared housing lease

The shared housing lease brings together several tenants in a single property. A co-living agreement sets out the internal rules: apportionment of charges, replacements, individual departure.

To explore all lease types, see our lease agreement guide.

Security deposit in Brussels

The security deposit is regulated in Brussels:

• 2 months’ rent maximum if deposited in a blocked account in the tenant’s name.
• 3 months’ rent if constituted through a bank guarantee or an interest-free loan (notably via the CPAS/OCMW).

The amount must be clearly stated in the lease agreement. The deposit is returned to the tenant at the end of the lease, subject to a compliant check-out inventory of fixtures.

Indexation and rent revision

Rent indexation is an annual right of the landlord in Brussels, provided the lease includes such a clause. It is calculated using the health index published monthly by Statbel.

Rent revision is different from indexation: it may be requested if the rent deviates significantly from the market rate, at the end of a triennial period. Only a limited framework allows this revision, often before the justice of the peace.

Use our rent indexation calculator to get the exact amount in 10 seconds.

Termination of a Brussels lease

Lease termination in Brussels follows precise rules.

Tenant’s side

The tenant may end the lease at any time, with 3 months’ notice. If the departure occurs before the end of the 3rd year, compensation is owed to the landlord:

Landlord’s side

The landlord may terminate in 3 cases:

During the lease, any amendment must be formalised in an addendum signed by both parties.

Lease expiry and renewal

The lease expires at the agreed term (3, 6 or 9 years). If neither party expresses the intention to end the contract, the lease is tacitly renewed for the following period.

A 9-year lease that is not terminated at expiry is automatically extended for 3 years, then another 3 years, then another 3 years, without requiring a new signature.

Lease registration in Brussels

Lease registration is mandatory throughout Belgium, including Brussels. It is free of charge and the landlord’s responsibility, within 2 months of signing. Three options are available:

• Via the MyRent platform (FPS Finance).
• By registered post to the competent office.
• At the local registration office.

An unregistered lease deprives the landlord of certain rights (notably in the event of sale or termination).

Download a Brussels lease agreement PDF

Our Brussels-Capital Region lease template is available in PDF format, fully compliant with the Brussels Housing Code. It includes all mandatory clauses and the regional explanatory annexes.

The download is free and requires no registration. The file is updated annually to reflect legislative changes.

Create a personalised Brussels lease

Drafting a lease from a blank template takes time. For a fully compliant and personalised lease, use our online lease generator:

• Automatic adaptation to the Brussels Housing Code.
• Integration of the latest EPC rules.
• Calculation of the maximum security deposit.
• Explanatory annexes included.
• Electronic signature available in one click.

In 10 minutes, your Brussels lease is ready, signed and registered.