In Belgium

Minor maintenance (petit entretien / kleine herstellingen) refers to routine upkeep and small repairs that the tenant must carry out during the lease. It covers the day-to-day wear items and maintenance tasks arising from normal use of the property.

Tenant’s responsibility (minor maintenance):

  • Annual boiler servicing (mandatory in all Regions)
  • Replacing tap washers, seals and gaskets
  • Unblocking drains and pipes
  • Replacing light bulbs and fuses
  • Maintaining garden and outdoor areas
  • Cleaning chimney flues (if applicable)
  • Replacing broken window panes (unless caused by a building defect)
  • Maintaining door handles, locks and hinges

How it works

Legal basis. The tenant must maintain the property “as a good family father” (en bon pere de famille). This means carrying out all routine maintenance and small repairs that keep the property in the condition described in the entry property inventory.

Grey areas. The line between minor and major maintenance is not always clear. A general rule: if the repair is due to normal wear and use, it is the tenant’s responsibility. If it is due to age, defect or structural deterioration, it is the landlord’s.

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Good to know
Annual boiler servicing is mandatory in all Belgian Regions and is always the tenant’s responsibility. The tenant must keep proof of servicing (certificate from a qualified technician) and provide it to the landlord on request.

Practical example

A tenant in Brussels notices a dripping kitchen tap. Replacing the washer (5 EUR + 10 minutes’ work) is minor maintenance — the tenant’s responsibility. If the entire tap assembly needs replacement due to corrosion (150 EUR), this is major maintenance — the landlord’s responsibility.