Download the template
Several formats available:
- PDF: fixed format, for printing and signing.
- Word (.docx): editable format for full customisation.
Included in the download:
- Commercial lease template (9 years).
- Pop-up lease template (1 year or less).
- Summary sheet of mandatory mentions.
- User guide.
Why choose the PDF format?
The PDF format is preferred for final signing because it locks the content:
- No accidental modifications possible.
- Identical rendering on any device (Windows, Mac, mobile).
- eIDAS-compatible electronic signature (qualified via itsme, eID).
- Optimal legal storage (durability, tamper-proof).
For customisation, use the Word version first, then export to PDF before signing. The Word format remains preferable when multiple rounds of negotiation are planned.
For a residential lease template, see residential lease templates.
What the template contains
Our template covers all mandatory mentions of a Belgian commercial lease:
- Full identity of the parties (landlord, tenant, guarantors).
- Precise address of the leased property and description of floor areas.
- Description of the authorised business and commercial activity.
- Duration (9 years by default, triennial periods for tenant termination).
- Monthly rent amount and annual indexation terms.
- Security deposit (2 to 6 months’ rent depending on market practice).
- Mandatory EPC certificate.
- Renewal clauses (articles 13-14 of the 1951 law).
- Assignment and subletting clauses (articles 10-11).
- Early termination conditions.
- Key handover and inventory of fixtures.
- Allocation of charges (property tax, co-ownership fees, insurance).
Available annex templates
Addendum to the commercial lease
To amend a current lease without terminating it: change of tenant, rent revision, addition of floor space, change of business activity. The addendum must be signed by both parties and registered with the FPS Finance within 4 months.
Assignment of the lease
Assignment template allowing the transfer of the lease upon sale of the business. Assignment is a right when selling the business, unless an express contrary clause exists. The assignor remains jointly liable for a minimum of 2 years.
Commercial sublease
Template governing subletting, subject to the written consent of the original landlord (article 11 of the 1951 law). Without such consent, the sublease is void and may lead to termination of the main lease.
Commercial inventory of fixtures
Mandatory inventory template at move-in, with detailed sections per room: floors, walls, ceilings, sanitary facilities, technical equipment. Protects both parties at the end of the lease.
How to use the template
5 steps:
- Download the PDF or Word file.
- Open in Word, LibreOffice, Google Docs or Adobe Acrobat.
- Customise the highlighted fields (identities, address, rent, duration, activity, security deposit).
- Review the clauses specific to your situation (assignment, subletting, non-compete).
- Sign: print or sign electronically.
After signing, register the lease with the FPS Finance within 4 months (mandatory, duty of 0.20%). See commercial lease registration.
Compliance with the law of 30 April 1951
Our template strictly complies with the law of 30 April 1951:
- Minimum 9-year duration (articles 3 to 5).
- Renewal as a tenant right (articles 13-14), request 18-15 months before expiry.
- Strict regulation of annual indexation based on the health index.
- Right to eviction compensation (1 to 3 years’ rent) in case of unjustified refusal.
- Protection against abusive termination.
Contrary clauses are deemed unwritten. The lease follows these federal rules regardless of the region. See the commercial lease hub for the full guide.
Commercial lease vs residential lease
| Criterion | Commercial lease | Residential lease |
|---|---|---|
| Law | 30 April 1951 (federal) | Regional decrees |
| Duration | 9 years minimum | 9 years (with triennial periods) |
| Registration | Mandatory + 0.20% fee | Mandatory + free |
| Security deposit | 2-6 months negotiable | 2-3 months depending on region |
| Renewal | Right (18-15 months prior) | Depends on region |
For a residential lease: residential lease templates.
Dispute resolution procedure
If a dispute arises (unpaid rent, damage, contested end of lease), the procedure begins with a registered letter or, in serious cases, a bailiff’s writ.
For a contested renewal, the tenant may claim eviction compensation. The justice of the peace of the canton where the property is located has jurisdiction.
To create a customised lease online instead of using a static template, use our online lease builder.