Discrimination in the Rental Market
Ban on discrimination
It is prohibited to discriminate against a prospective tenant or tenant based on one or more of the following criteria: gender, perceived race, colour, ancestry, nationality, national or ethnic origin, age, sexual orientation, marital status, birth, wealth, religious or philosophical beliefs, political beliefs, language, health status, disability, physical or genetic characteristics, origin, social station, trade union beliefs, residency status, family responsibilities, adoption, co-parenthood or paternity.
The ban on discrimination applies to every stage of the sales or rental process.
Downloads (only available in French and Dutch)
Examples of discrimination
Here are some typical examples of housing discrimination:
- a landlord or real estate agent has refused you housing or has not followed up on your application for a discriminatory reason (see criteria above).
- you have seen a discriminatory property ad (e.g. "PCSW beneficiaries need not apply", "unemployed people need not apply", "expired employment contract", "expired permanent contract", "housing reserved for men/women/people without children", etc.) on the Internet, in the newspaper, on a poster, on a social network, etc.
- as a prospective tenant, you have been asked to provide information or documents that exceed what a landlord can request.
- after the lease has been signed, it is considered discriminatory to break it because the tenant couple is homosexual, or because the tenant has a partner of foreign origin.
What can the landlord ask for?
The landlord may only request certain information, which is listed in Article 200b of the Brussels Housing Code:
- Before the visit:
- the surname and first name of the prospective tenant(s);
- a means of communication with the prospective tenant;
- In support of the application:
- the amount of the lessee's financial resources or an estimate;
- the number of people in the household;
- For drafting and concluding the lease contract:
- any document attesting to the lessee's identity and capacity to contract;
- the lessee's marital status if married or legally cohabiting.
Any information or documents not included in this list cannot be requested.
The Region provides a standardised application form setting out the information and supporting documents that a landlord is authorised to request from a prospective tenant:
Downloads (only available in French and Dutch)
Complaints or reports
Legal basis
- Opens in new windowArticles 192 et suivants du Code bruxellois du Logement (Titre X – De l’égalité de traitement et de la lutte contre la discrimination)
- Opens in new windowArrêté du Gouvernement de la Région de Bruxelles-Capitale du 21 mars 2019 portant exécution de l’ordonnance du 21 décembre 2018 modifiant le Code bruxellois du Logement afin de renforcer la lutte contre la discrimination dans l’accès au logement
- Opens in new windowArrêté du Gouvernement de la Région de Bruxelles-Capitale du 15 juin 2023 modifiant l’arrêté du Gouvernement de la Région de Bruxelles-Capitale du 21 mars 2019 portant exécution de l’ordonnance du 21 décembre 2018 modifiant le Code bruxellois du Logement afin de renforcer la lutte contre la discrimination dans l’accès à un logement
- Opens in new windowArrêté du Gouvernement de la Région de Bruxelles-Capitale du 15 juin 2023 instaurant un document standardisé reprenant les informations pouvant être requises par le bailleur, en exécution de l’article 200ter, § 2, du Code bruxellois du Logement