A new language requirement for social housing tenants in Flanders will take effect two years after the allocation of a residence, with various exemptions in place.
Flemish Housing Minister Melissa Depraetere (Vooruit), announced this in response to a question from Fourat Ben Chikha (Groen) during a parliamentary committee session.
The new government agreement includes a stricter language requirement, raising the mandatory language level to B1 oral proficiency.
Minister Depraetere clarified these details on Wednesday. “It is not a prerequisite,” she stated. “We ask people to make an effort to learn the language once they are in social housing. This is a tenant’s obligation, effective only when they become tenants. They are given a two-year period to achieve this level.”
This rule applies to individuals who become social housing tenants on or after 1 January 2023, meaning the first tenants affected will need to demonstrate the requisite level by 1 January 2025. For tenants from before 1 January 2023, the requirement remains at level A1.
Language proficiency is measured according to six levels : A1 and A2, B1 and B2, and C1 and C2. The A levels are the lowest, applicable to basic users of the language, people not yet able to manage independently in a linguistic sense. The B levels apply to so-called independent language users. People who function at C level are skilled users. They speak the language with great ease.
According to Minister Depraetere, multiple exceptions are provided. For example, tenants with a “declaration of having finished learning” may be exempted.
People with medical certificates indicating an inability to meet the language requirement due to severe illness or mental or physical disabilities also qualify for exemption.
Tenants may also request extensions for professional, medical, or personal reasons.
