INTERVIEW with the Housing Information Centre

^{From left to right: Lucas Moors, Quentin Labarre, Elke Malfait}

Quentin: "The CIL is a point of contact for citizens and professionals. We answer their questions on topics such as benefits, substandard or unoccupied housing, rental contracts, indexation of the rent, combating discrimination in the housing market, etc."

Elke: "We are responsible for the Brussels Housing documentation centre and also provide the secretariat for the Housing Advisory Council (CCL), an advisory body made up of sector professionals."

Lucas: "We also manage the Brussels Housing website."

Elke: "We answer their questions or direct them to the appropriate service. They can email us their questions to cil-wic@sprb.brussels or call the freephone number 0800/40.400 on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays from 9:00 to 12:00."

Quentin: "We always offer our partners a sympathetic ear and pass on their concerns to other departments at Brussels Housing."

Lucas: "We inform them by publishing articles, brochures, notices, etc. on important housing issues and reforms. These publications are then used to inform their target audience."

Lucas: "Partners can contact us for a reliable, up-to-date and complete answer. Because we centralise laws, regulations and information from other players in the field, we have a global view of the Brussels housing landscape, which is a real asset for our department!"

Quentin: "We also have access to all the latest information on the subject thanks to cooperation with our legal department, the office of the Secretary of State for Housing, and the Housing Advisory Council."

Elke: "For example, a social worker from the PCSW helps a citizen to complete their file for a rehousing allowance and then contacts us for help. We will look into the matter further, and also explain that the Fonds du Logement helps to set up a rental guarantee and that registering the lease is one of the landlord's legal obligations if they want to be able to index their rent in the future."

Quentin: "We want to strengthen our collaboration with partners and keep them better informed. This is why, in 2023, we will organise training courses on topics such as insalubrity, discrimination, rent allowances and public management law."

Elke: "We need to keep a close eye on political deliberations and legislative developments. Our mission is also to be able to translate housing developments into concrete action."

Lucas: "The Brussels-Capital Region wants to reduce the number of public institution websites and group them by theme, to better adapt the different services to the needs of citizens, businesses and associations. The CIL will play a key role in developing the site's housing theme."