Choosing your tenant in Belgium
Complete guide to choosing your tenant in Belgium. Legal criteria, creditworthiness checks, application file and objective selection.
The tenant selection process
Choosing a tenant is one of the most impactful decisions for a landlord. A bad choice can cost thousands of euros in unpaid rent, damage and legal fees.
The selection process follows four steps:
- Publish the listing and define objective selection criteria
- Organise viewings and collect initial applications
- Analyse applications based on uniform criteria
- Choose the strongest candidate and sign the lease
Define your criteria before viewings: minimum solvency (rent-to-income ratio), professional stability, references. Apply these criteria identically to all candidates to avoid any discrimination reproach.
Documents to request
| Document | Purpose | Can you legally request it |
|---|---|---|
| Identity card | Verify identity | Yes |
| Proof of income (3 payslips) | Assess solvency | Yes |
| Employment contract | Verify stability | Yes |
| Previous landlord reference | Check track record | Yes (with tenant consent) |
| Bank statement | Verify income | Debated (privacy) |
| Medical certificate | Health status | No (prohibited) |
| Criminal record | Background check | No (prohibited) |
The anti-discrimination law prohibits requesting certain documents. Stick to income, employment and identity documents.
Assessing solvency
The standard solvency rule: the rent should not exceed one-third of the tenant’s net monthly income.
| Net monthly income | Maximum recommended rent |
|---|---|
| EUR 1,500 | EUR 500 |
| EUR 2,000 | EUR 667 |
| EUR 2,500 | EUR 833 |
| EUR 3,000 | EUR 1,000 |
Beyond income, also consider: employment type (permanent vs temporary), income stability, guarantor availability and the rental deposit payment capacity.
Pitfalls to avoid
- Choosing too quickly: take time to compare at least 3-5 candidates
- Relying on impression alone: always verify documents and references
- Discriminating: refusing a candidate based on origin, gender, age or family status is illegal
- Skipping the deposit: always require a rental deposit before handing over keys
- Not checking the current dwelling: a visit to the candidate’s current home (with their agreement) reveals their living habits
Finalising the choice
Once you have selected your candidate:
- Draft a compliant lease
- Set up the rental deposit
- Carry out a detailed inventory of fixtures
- Register the lease with FPS Finance
- Hand over the keys
A rental management software guides you through each step and centralises all documents from the start.