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Key rules for renting

Before renting out a property, the owner must ensure that the property meets the compliance and safety standards defined by the Brussels Housing Code. Once the lease agreement has been signed, the landlord must also register the lease with the FPS Finance.

Compliance and safety standards

A rental property must meet minimum standards for safety, sanitation and basic facilities.  

It is the landlord's responsibility to ensure that these minimum conditions are met from the outset and throughout the rental period. Properties that fail to meet these requirements risk being banned from rental. .

Registration of the lease agreement

Opens in new windowRegistration of the lease agreement is a free, compulsory procedure that the landlord must complete within 2 months of signing the lease. If the landlord fails to do so, the tenant can terminate the contract without notice or compensation, provided they have first sent a formal notice to the landlord, which remains unanswered for one month.  

Registering the lease also protects the tenant's rights against third parties, especially if the property is sold. Therefore it is in the tenant's interest to register the lease themselves if the landlord fails to fulfil this obligation.  

The FPS Finance is responsible for determining the Opens in new windowvarious options for registering a lease agreement.  

Affordable rental properties

As a property owner, you can choose to rent your property at a moderate price, to people with modest incomes. This can be done through the Social Rental Agencies (AIS). 

An AIS offers landlords risk- and hassle-free rental management. In exchange for a below-market rent, the property owner receives a number of services and guarantees. 

Key services and guarantees for the owner: 

  • Rent is guaranteed every month (even in the case of a vacancy or non-payment by the tenant); 
  • The AIS maintains the property "as an ordinarily prudent person": the property owner is assured of getting their property back in good condition (covering tenant-caused damage at the end of the contract, excluding normal wear and tear); 
  • The AIS handles all rental management aspects (selecting and monitoring tenants, signing and registering leases, inventories, etc.); 
  • The property owner can benefit from renovation assistance and access to renovation grants from the Brussels-Capital Region; 
  • The AIS provides tax advantages: any property owner who entrusts a property to an AIS is exempt from property tax. 

To rent a property at a moderate price, the property owner must contact an AIS. More information is available on the Opens in new windowFEDAIS website. 

Beware of discrimination!

It is illegal to discriminate against a potential tenant based on skin colour, origin, gender, sexual orientation, etc. For more information on other criteria, visit the Discrimination in Housing page. 

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