Discrimination: Protecting Your Rights as a Renter
You can use this form to contact Brussels Housing to report incidents of discrimination, either as a victim (complaint) or as a witness (report), that have occurred in the Brussels-Capital Region.
- Duration: 15 minutes
- Response: N/A
- Documents: Yes
- Mode: Digital and physical
Submitting a complaint or report
Any individual, association or public service may submit a complaint or report with the Regional Housing Inspectorate (DIRL) of Brussels Housing. This is the case even if the person submitting the report was not directly involved, but simply observed the discriminatory behaviour, for example noticing a discriminatory advert.
Reminder
A landlord, property owner or estate agent cannot discriminate against a prospective buyer or tenant based on one or more of the following criteria:
- gender (including pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding, maternity, adoption, medically assisted procreation, medical or social transition, gender identity, gender expression, sex characteristics, paternity, comaternity, co-paternity, co-parenthood);
- perceived race;
- colour;
- ancestry;
- nationality;
- national or ethnic origin;
- social origin or condition;
- family responsibilities (including single parenthood);
- age;
- residency status;
- sexual orientation;
- marital status;
- birth;
- wealth;
- religious or philosophical belief;
- political opinion;
- trade union membership
- language
- health status (past, present or future)
- disability
- physical or genetic characteristics.
You can submit the application online or by postal mail using the paper form that can be downloaded below:
Downloads
What happens next?
Once the complaint or report has been received, the case is reviewed to determine if the reported facts are likely to constitute a housing discrimination offence. Additional information may be requested.
- If the information provided is incomplete, or not likely to constitute an offence within the DIRL's jurisdiction, the complaint or report will be declared inadmissible.
- The DIRL may conduct a discrimination test if necessary to establish the existence of the offence.
- If the complaint or report is substantiated, the person responsible for the discrimination may be fined between €125 and €6,200, after a hearing. In cases of intentional discrimination, the fine may be multiplied according to the number of victims, with a cap of €20,000. In some cases, they may even face criminal penalties.
Brussels housing cannot order any compensation measures for the victim, such as damages.
