Glossary Lease & contract — vocabulary in context
Types, clauses, duration, subletting.
31 definitions · 4 clustersView by concept
4 semantic hubs · 31 connected terms
Each cluster groups a central concept and its related terms. Click to explore.
L
Lease →
A lease is a contract whereby the landlord makes a property available to the tenant for a specified use, in return for rent. In Belgium, it is governed by the Civil Code and regional legislation.
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Landlord
The landlord is the natural or legal person who rents out a property and receives rent in return for the enjoyment granted to the tenant. In Belgium, they are subject to strict legal obligations defined by regional legislation.
Tenant
The tenant is the natural or legal person who rents a property and undertakes to pay rent in return for its enjoyment. In Belgium, primary residence tenants benefit from enhanced legal protection.
Registration
Lease registration is a mandatory formality in Belgium consisting of filing the contract with the Legal Security office within 2 months of signing. It is free for primary residence leases.
Primary residence lease
The primary residence lease is the most common rental contract in Belgium. With a legal duration of 9 years, it offers enhanced protection to the tenant who uses the property as their main home.
Short-term lease
A short-term lease is a rental contract with a maximum duration of 3 years, derogating from the standard 9-year lease. It offers more flexibility but less protection.
C
Co-tenancy →
Co-tenancy is a situation where multiple tenants share the same dwelling in Belgium. Each can be bound to the landlord by a joint or individual lease, possibly with a co-tenancy agreement.
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Co-tenancy agreement
A co-tenancy agreement is a private agreement between co-tenants governing rent distribution, charges, use of common areas and conditions for a co-tenant's departure.
Student lease
The student lease is a specific rental contract for students in Belgium, with flexible termination conditions linked to stopping or changing studies. Its duration is generally one year.
Coliving
Coliving is a shared living arrangement where residents have a private space (room) and share common areas (kitchen, lounge, garden), often with included services (cleaning, wifi, furniture).
Subletting
Subletting is the operation whereby a tenant makes all or part of the rented property available to a third party for rent. In Belgium, it is in principle prohibited without the landlord's prior written consent.
E
Electronic signature →
The electronic signature is a technical process allowing a document to be signed electronically. In Belgium, it is legally valid for lease agreements under the conditions defined by the European eIDAS regulation.
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Dematerialisation
Dematerialisation is the process of replacing paper documents with electronic formats. In rental management, it applies to leases, inventories, receipts and reminders.
Signature workflow
A signature workflow is an organised and automated process for managing the signing steps of a lease by the different parties, often via an online platform.
Other terms
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Amendment
An amendment is a legal document modifying one or more clauses of an existing lease. It must be signed by both parties and appended to the original lease to have legal effect.
Domiciliation
Domiciliation is registration in the population register of the municipality where the tenant's primary residence is located. In Belgium, it is linked to the concept of primary residence lease and conditions certain rights.
Emphyteutic lease
An emphyteutic lease is a real right of enjoyment over a property granted for 15 to 99 years. It gives the holder (emphyteuta) a right almost equivalent to ownership, subject to paying a fee and preserving the property's value.
Furnished lease
A furnished lease is a rental contract for a dwelling equipped with sufficient furniture for the tenant to live there immediately. In Belgium, it follows the same regime as an unfurnished lease.
Lease addendum
A lease addendum is a supplementary document appended to the original lease to add additional provisions without modifying the existing clauses.
Lease assignment
A lease assignment is the transfer of the tenant's rights and obligations to a third party. In Belgium, it is prohibited for residential leases without the landlord's consent, but permitted by default for commercial leases.
Lease register
The lease register is the official register maintained by the Belgian tax administration listing registered leases. It serves as proof of the contract's existence and date.
Mandatory annexes
Mandatory annexes are documents that must accompany the lease agreement in Belgium: entry inventory of fixtures, EPC certificate and, where applicable, co-ownership regulations.
Penalty clause
A penalty clause is a contractual provision setting a fixed compensation in case of breach of a lease obligation. In Belgium, the judge can reduce the amount if they consider it excessive.
Precarious occupation
Precarious occupation is an agreement allowing temporary occupation of a property free of charge or at low cost, without the protections of a primary residence lease.
Professional lease
A professional lease is a rental contract for the exercise of a liberal profession or non-commercial activity. In Belgium, it falls under general lease law and not under the Commercial Lease Act.
Remaining lease term
The remaining lease term is the period between the current date and the planned expiration date of the lease. It is an important factor for calculating early termination compensation and evaluating an investment property.
Tacit renewal
Tacit renewal is the automatic extension of the lease at expiry when neither party has given notice within the legal timeframe. The lease continues under the same conditions.
Termination clause
A termination clause is a lease provision allowing for automatic termination of the contract in case of serious breach by either party. In Belgium, it remains subject to judicial review by the justice of the peace.
Do not confuse
Co-tenancy vs Co-tenancy agreement
Co-tenancy is a situation where multiple tenants share the same dwelling in Belgium. / A co-tenancy agreement is a private agreement between co-tenants governing rent distribution, charges, use of common areas and conditions for a co-tenant's departure.
Commercial lease vs Lease
The commercial lease is a rental contract for a property intended for commercial activity in Belgium. / A lease is a contract whereby the landlord makes a property available to the tenant for a specified use, in return for rent.
Commercial lease vs Professional lease
The commercial lease is a rental contract for a property intended for commercial activity in Belgium. / A professional lease is a rental contract for the exercise of a liberal profession or non-commercial activity.
Did you know
This glossary contains 31 definitions
Each term is explained in the Belgian legal context, with the specificities of the 3 Regions (Brussels, Wallonia, Flanders). Definitions include practical examples and links to reference articles.
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