Steps in Renting and Leasing

Make sure that the rental property meets the minimum requirements for safety, sanitation and basic facilities.  

For more information, see the page on  Formalities when renting. 

The landlord must provide the tenant with the following information: description of the property, rent amount, whether or not there are individual meters for water, gas and electricity, a list and estimate of charges, an Opens in new windowenergy certificate (EPB), whether or not there is a property management company.  

The landlord may also request certain information from the tenant: identity, contact details, number of people in the household and the amount of financial resources. 

Apart from this, the landlord cannot ask for any other information. 

The Region provides several standard lease templates, tailored to the specifics of the rental situation.  

You must choose between a principal residence lease or a common law lease.  

There are also two specific types of agreement: the shared tenancy lease and the student lease (which can be concluded as a principal residence lease or a common law lease). 

For principal residence leases, the standard duration is 9 years, but you can also opt for:  

• a short-term lease: 3 years or less 
• a long-term lease: over 9 years 
• a lifetime lease 
• student leases are always for 12 months  

The choice of duration affects notice periods and compensation 

On the private rental market, the landlord is free to set the rent. However, you can find an indication of rents in Brussels based on the neighbourhood and property characteristics at: Opens in new windowloyers.brussels

Rent reviews for principal residence leases may be requested under certain conditions (Opens in new windowsee Residential Leases brochure). 

The landlord provides a list and estimate of the charges relating to the private and/or common areas that the tenant will need to pay. The landlord also indicates whether these charges are based on actual costs or are a fixed amount. 

The landlord may request a guarantee from the tenant. There are several forms of guarantee:  

• individualised account: an amount equivalent to 2 months' rent is deposited into a blocked account in the tenant's name.  
• bank guarantee: a financial institution guarantees the total amount of the guarantee. The tenant agrees to provide this guarantee through fixed monthly instalments for the duration of the contract (up to a maximum of 3 years). The bank guarantee cannot exceed 3 months' rent.  
• Opens in new windowrental guarantee through the Housing Fund: The Housing Fund provides rental guarantees subject to specific income conditions. 

The Government has established an Opens in new windowexplanatory appendix to be attached to lease agreements, containing information intended to inform both the tenant and the landlord about important aspects of the Housing Code. 

The inventory of fixtures is a mandatory document describing the condition of the property. It must be completed before the tenant occupies the property or within the first month of the lease.  

A template document is available from the Government. 

For more information, see the Inventory of fixtures page. 

This free, compulsory procedure must be completed by the landlord 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. 

In practice, there is no law requiring either the landlord or the tenant to take out fire insurance (also known as home insurance). Additionally, such insurance does not cover the same risks for both parties.  

Given the benefits for both parties, it is advisable to take out such insurance. You can find more information on the respective advantages in our brochure. 

The tenant is responsible for carrying out any maintenance and repairs, with the exception of those caused by disrepair or force majeure.  

The government has drawn up a non-exhaustive list of the main repair and maintenance obligations. The parties cannot deviate from this division. 

Indexation is the periodic adjustment of the rent to reflect changes in the cost of living. If the lease allows, the rent can be indexed annually, at the earliest on the anniversary date of the lease coming into force. 

A notice period begins on the first day of the month following the month in which notice was given. In the event of problems or non-compliance with the lease, only a judge has the authority to terminate the agreement.  

Opens in new windowMore information on the different termination options based on the agreement

The exit inventory of fixtures compares the condition of the property at the end of the lease with that described in the entry inventory. 

The exit inventory is conducted after the tenant has moved out.