{"id":17474,"date":"2023-03-15T08:27:30","date_gmt":"2023-03-15T07:27:30","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/flora.insure\/?p=17474"},"modified":"2023-07-05T19:53:48","modified_gmt":"2023-07-05T17:53:48","slug":"rent-apartment-brussels","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/flora.insure\/en\/blog\/rent-apartment-brussels\/","title":{"rendered":"How to rent an apartment in Brussels?"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><em>You have decided to move to <strong>Belgium<\/strong>. Welcome to the country of chocolate and fries! \ud83c\udf6b\ud83c\udf5f Finding an accommodation won\u2019t be easy. How can you look for one? What are the tips and tricks to rent a place? Renting isn\u2019t easy. Flora gives you all the information on <strong>how to rent an apartment in Brussels\u00a0<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n<h2><strong>Everything you need to know before renting an apartment in Brussels<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>Brussels is an optimal location <strong>to rent an apartment \ud83d\udccd<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>As the capital of Belgium, it serves as <strong>the cultural hub of Belgian society<\/strong>. Notably, Brussels boasts a diverse and vibrant multicultural environment, further adding to its appeal.<\/p>\n<p>There are several suburbs in Brussels that cater to the needs of expatriates, such as <strong>Ixelles<\/strong>, <strong>Saint-Gilles<\/strong>, and <strong>Etterbeek<\/strong>. These suburbs are conveniently situated in proximity to the city center and are easily accessible via public transport like buses, trains, and trams \ud83d\ude8d<\/p>\n<p>On the other hand, the city center is generally not recommended for rental purposes due to the typically high rental prices.<\/p>\n<p>Regarding <strong>the rental costs<\/strong>, a two-bedroom apartment close to the center can range <strong>between \u20ac700 and \u20ac1.000 per month<\/strong>, depending on the location and size of the unit. It&#8217;s important to note that <strong>rental charges<\/strong> such as <strong>electricity<\/strong>, <strong>water<\/strong>, and <strong>heating<\/strong> are usually not included in the rent. Therefore, it&#8217;s necessary to budget for additional expenses prior to renting.<\/p>\n<p>Additionally, <strong>furnished apartments<\/strong> are typically more expensive than unfurnished ones.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"image strchf-type-image regular strchf-size-regular strchf-align-center\"><picture><source srcset=\"https:\/\/flora.insure\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/BLOG-image-dans-article-2022-799-x-533-px-3.jpg 1x\" media=\"(max-width: 768px)\" \/><\/picture><picture><source srcset=\"https:\/\/flora.insure\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/BLOG-image-dans-article-2022-799-x-533-px-3.jpg 1x\" media=\"(min-width: 769px)\" \/><\/picture>\n<p><div style=\"width: 591px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/flora.insure\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/BLOG-image-dans-article-2022-799-x-533-px-3.jpg\" alt=\"Building in Brussels\" width=\"581\" height=\"387\" \/><p class=\"wp-caption-text\">Welcome to Brussels, the city of Manneken Pis<\/p><\/div><\/figure>\n<h2><strong>How to find accommodation in the Capital ?<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>There are a variety of <strong>accommodation options<\/strong> available for rent in Brussels, including <strong>houses<\/strong>, <strong>apartments<\/strong>, <strong>studios<\/strong>, and <strong>coliving residences \ud83c\udfe0<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>When choosing your rental, it is also essential to determine whether you prefer living alone or with roommates. <strong>Cohousing<\/strong> has become a popular choice among expatriates. It provides an opportunity to save money and avoid isolation. Sharing a flat allows you to live in a community and make friends more easily in a foreign country.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>If you are willing <strong>to rent a studio or an apartment in Brussels<\/strong>, several websites can assist you, including <a href=\"https:\/\/www.immoweb.be\/en\/search\/apartment\/for-rent\/brussels-city\/1000\">Immoweb<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/housinganywhere.com\/s\/Brussels--Belgium\">HousingAnywhere<\/a> and\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.spotahome.com\/s\/brussels\/for-rent:apartments\">Spotahome<\/a><\/li>\n<li>In case you are searching for <strong>a cohousing option in Brussels<\/strong>, several websites can aid you in finding a suitable place to rent, such as<a href=\"https:\/\/www.cohabs.com\/houses\/brussels\"> Cohabs<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.coliving.be\/\">Coliving<\/a>, the Facebook group <a href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/groups\/272541584183628\/\">&#8220;Co-housing Brussels&#8221;<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.colochousing.com\/\">Colochousing<\/a>.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><strong>The do\u2019s and don\u2019ts when you rent an apartment in Brussels<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>There are <strong>different steps in renting an apartment in Brussels \ud83d\udc47<\/strong><\/p>\n<h3><strong>Lease contract<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p><strong>Short- and long-term rental agreements<\/strong> are formalized through a lease contract between <strong>the landlord<\/strong> and <strong>the tenant \u270d\ud83c\udffc<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>This contract outlines:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>the respective <strong>rights<\/strong> and <strong>duties<\/strong> of each party<\/li>\n<li>the <strong>duration<\/strong> of the lease<\/li>\n<li>the protocol for <strong>termination<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Typically, there are <strong>two types of lease agreements<\/strong>: short-term and long-term. The former has a maximum <strong>lease period of three years<\/strong>, with the option of signing a six-month or one-year contract.<\/p>\n<p>In contrast, <strong>a long-term lease<\/strong> entails a rental period of <strong>more than three years<\/strong> but no more than nine years. In the absence of any specific provisions in the contract, the standard rental period is nine years, and the agreement is automatically renewed each year.<\/p>\n<p><strong>A notice of termination<\/strong> is required to end the lease, and specific notice periods must be respected.<\/p>\n<h3><strong>Inventory<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p>In Belgium, conducting <strong>an inventory of fixtures<\/strong> is a mandatory step in the process of renting a flat \ud83d\udcc3<\/p>\n<p>This inventory provides a detailed description of <strong>the condition of the accommodation<\/strong> at the time of handover and can be performed by either the landlord or a specialized office. It is imperative that the tenant be present during this process.<\/p>\n<p>The inventory of fixtures serves as an essential document on the day you wish <strong>to recover your rental deposit<\/strong>. Therefore, it is imperative that it is conducted accurately and comprehensively.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"embed strchf-type-embed regular strchf-size-regular strchf-align-center\">\n<div class=\"embed-container\">\n<div style=\"max-width: 100%; position: relative; padding-top: 42.0833%;\"><iframe style=\"border: 0px; position: absolute; top: 0px; left: 0px; width: 100%; height: 100%;\" src=\"https:\/\/giphy.com\/embed\/dpqQNluWFaSpq\/twitter\/iframe\" width=\"480\" height=\"202\" frameborder=\"0\" scrolling=\"no\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<h3><strong>Repairs<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p>In Brussels,<strong> tenants<\/strong> are responsible for <strong>minor repairs<\/strong> such as fixing a broken sink or a crack in the wall \ud83d\udd28<\/p>\n<p>However, it is necessary for tenants to notify their landlord each time such repairs are made.<\/p>\n<p>On the other hand, <strong>landlords<\/strong> are responsible for <strong>major repairs<\/strong> such as fixing the roof. It is their duty to ensure that the property remains habitable and in good condition for their tenants.<\/p>\n<h3><strong>Registration of your lease contract<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p>In Belgium, it is mandatory for landlords <strong>to register their lease contract<\/strong>. Failure to do so renders the agreement unlawful, hence the importance of ensuring that the registration process has been completed correctly \u26a0\ufe0f<\/p>\n<p>It is imperative that the lease agreement is <strong>registered within two months of its signing<\/strong>. As a tenant, you can confirm the registration status of your lease agreement by accessing the &#8220;My home and properties&#8221; section under &#8220;Check my leases&#8221; on the <a href=\"https:\/\/eservices.minfin.fgov.be\/myminfin-web\/pages\/public\"><strong>MyMinfin<\/strong><\/a> portal, after logging in.<\/p>\n<p><strong>An unregistered tenancy agreement<\/strong> may be terminated without notice or compensation by the tenant. Thus, both landlords and tenants must ensure that the registration process is carried out correctly and on time to avoid any legal complications.<\/p>\n<h2><strong>And don\u2019t forget your renters insurance!<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>That\u2019s it! You\u2019ve found the perfect apartment to rent in Brussels! What about <strong>your insurance<\/strong>? \ud83e\udd37\u200d\u2640\ufe0f<\/p>\n<p>While it is not compulsory to have <a href=\"https:\/\/flora.insure\/en\/tenant-insurance\/\"><strong>renters insurance<\/strong><\/a>, landlords often require tenants to have it, as stated <strong>in the lease contract<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<p>In Belgium, <strong>fire insurance<\/strong> offers protection <strong>in case of disasters<\/strong> such as fire, water damage, or broken windows. The basic coverage, referred to as &#8220;<strong>Tenant\u2019s civil liability<\/strong>&#8220;, covers the tenant&#8217;s responsibility in the event of damage to the rented property or neighbouring buildings.<\/p>\n<p>Tenants may also choose to take out <strong>an additional guarantee<\/strong> to <strong>cover their personal belongings<\/strong> such as furniture and electronic devices. It is advisable for tenants to carefully consider the available insurance options to ensure they are adequately covered in case of unforeseen events<\/p>\n<figure class=\"image strchf-type-image regular strchf-size-regular strchf-align-center\"><picture><source srcset=\"https:\/\/flora.insure\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/BLOG-image-dans-article-2022-799-x-533-px-1.png 1x\" media=\"(max-width: 768px)\" \/><source srcset=\"https:\/\/flora.insure\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/BLOG-image-dans-article-2022-799-x-533-px-1.png 1x\" media=\"(min-width: 769px)\" \/><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/flora.insure\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/BLOG-image-dans-article-2022-799-x-533-px-1.png\" alt=\"woman surprised on her phone\" \/><\/picture><\/figure>\n<p>Renting an apartment in Brussels <strong>as an expatriate<\/strong> involves several important steps. As an expat, now you understand the need to search for suitable accommodation options, decide on the type of contract and duration, conduct an inventory of fixtures, register the lease contract, and consider renters&#8217; insurance. With all those tips and tricks, it has never been easier <strong>to rent an apartment in Brussels \ud83c\udde7\ud83c\uddea<\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>How to find an apartment in Brussels? How to rent accommodation? We give you every thing you have to know as a renter in Belgium \ud83c\udde7\ud83c\uddea<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":27,"featured_media":17569,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_seopress_robots_primary_cat":"none","_seopress_titles_title":"How to rent an apartment in Brussels ? ","_seopress_titles_desc":"How to rent an apartment in Brussels? We share every important step before finding your accommodation in the Capital","_seopress_robots_index":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[179],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-17474","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-renting"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/flora.insure\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/17474","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/flora.insure\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/flora.insure\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/flora.insure\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/27"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/flora.insure\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=17474"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/flora.insure\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/17474\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/flora.insure\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/17569"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/flora.insure\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=17474"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/flora.insure\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=17474"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/flora.insure\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=17474"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}