The 6 most asked questions
Searched thousands of times this month by Belgian tenants and landlords.
Explore by topic
15 categories cover the entire rental journey, from first contact to end of lease.
Lease & contract
What documents are needed to sign a lease? · Is an oral lease valid in Belgium? · What is the duration of a primary residence lease?
Rights & obligations
Can the landlord enter the property? · Which small repairs are the tenant’s responsibility? · Can rent be increased during the lease?
Rental deposit
What is the deadline for deposit return? · How to get a deposit via CPAS? · Can the landlord withhold the deposit?
Rent indexation
Is indexation automatic? · My property has EPC F: can I index? · I forgot to index: can I catch up?
Taxation
How to declare rental income? · Can renovation costs be deducted? · Does property tax differ by region?
Inventory of fixtures
Is the inventory mandatory? · Can you contest an exit inventory? · Do you need an expert?
Termination & notice
What notice period for the landlord? · How to terminate by mutual agreement? · What compensation for early termination?
Works & maintenance
Who pays for boiler replacement? · Mold: who is responsible? · Can the tenant do works without consent?
Property management
Self-manage or use an agency? · Which property management software to choose? · Is a rent receipt mandatory?
Investment
What is a good rental yield? · Where to start with a first property? · Should you buy through a company?
Disputes & eviction
How long to evict a tenant? · How does rental mediation work? · How to go to the justice of the peace?
Rent & charges
Provisions or flat-rate charges? · Unpaid rent: what to do first? · Can rent be increased between tenants?
6 essential questions, explained in depth
Practical cases, legal references and numerical examples. Click to expand each answer.
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Yes, every primary residence lease must be registered within 2 months of signing. Registration is free for residential leases. The landlord is responsible and can do it online via MyRent.
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The formula is: base rent × (new index / start index). Indexation takes place once a year, on the anniversary date of the lease, upon written request from the landlord. Restrictions exist for properties with a poor EPC rating.
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Maximum 2 months rent if deposited in a blocked account, or 3 months via a bank guarantee or CPAS. The deposit must be returned within a reasonable period after the end of the lease.
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The owner. Property tax is a tax borne by the landlord, calculated on the cadastral income. It cannot be passed on to the tenant, except in certain commercial leases.
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3 months for a 9-year lease (primary residence), at any time. For a short-term lease, the notice period is also 3 months but compensation may be due depending on when the termination occurs.
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Yes, a clause prohibiting pets is legal in Belgium. However, it must be in the lease. Without an explicit clause, the tenant may keep a pet, provided it does not cause nuisance.
Answers tailored to the 3 Belgian regions
Residential lease law is regionalized: rules change depending on whether your property is in Brussels, Wallonia or Flanders.
Brussels-Capital
Ordinance of 27 July 2017. Specific rules on registration, indicative rent grid and regional rental deposit.
Wallonia
Walloon decree of 15 March 2018. Specifics: Walloon indicative grid, regional rental deposit and rental permit.
Flanders
Vlaams Woninghuurdecreet of 9 November 2018. Maximum 3 months deposit, energy compliance and own indexation.
Find answers tailored to your situation
Each profile has its priorities: we’ve grouped key questions by user type.
Landlord
Tenant selection, rent setting, taxation, incident management and end of lease.
Key questionsTenant
Your rights, possible disputes, notice period, security deposit and inventory.
Key questionsProperty investor
Net yield, asset structuring, financing and tax strategies.
Key questionsReal estate agency
Management mandate, IPI, due diligence, multi-property and owner reporting.
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The FAQ answers specific questions; our other resources give you the big picture.
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Health index, property tax, notice for personal occupation… Understand Belgian lease vocabulary in a few lines.
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