In Belgium

The rent amount is freely set by the parties when signing the lease. There is no legal cap on the initial rent in Belgium. However, the Brussels-Capital Region has established an indicative rent grid providing a reference range based on the property’s characteristics.

Rent is distinct from service charges: it represents solely the owner’s remuneration for making the property available. Charges (water, common area electricity, maintenance) are paid on top, either as provisions or a flat rate.

Once set, the base rent can only be modified through two mechanisms:

  • Indexation: annual automatic adjustment according to the health index
  • Rent review: modification of the base rent at the end of a triennial if the rental value has changed by more than 20%

Between tenants. The landlord can freely set a new rent between two leases — the only moment without constraints.

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Good to know
In Brussels, the landlord must mention the requested rent and the indicative grid range in the letting advertisement. This grid is not binding but serves as a reference in case of dispute.

Practical example

Anne lets a 2-bedroom apartment in Schaerbeek. The indicative grid shows a range of 850 to 1,050 EUR/month. Anne sets the rent at 950 EUR/month. She adds 120 EUR/month in charge provisions. The base rent (950 EUR) will be the reference for any future indexation.

Key considerations

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Warning
The landlord cannot unilaterally increase the rent during the lease, outside of the annual indexation. Any increase outside the legal framework is null and void.