From 1 November, Brussels landlords who let properties on short-term leases (less than three years) are no longer allowed to increase the rent between tenants beyond the official indexation rate.
This restriction applies both in cases of early termination or at the lease’s expiry and remains in effect for any subsequent short-term contracts for a period of nine years.
To ensure compliance, landlords will have to include several details in the short-term lease agreement, such as the type of previous lease and the rent charged to the last tenant.
This measure has been put in place in order to ensure that short-term leases’ rents do not increase faster than those of long-term leases, which can only change with indexation.
Aiming for rental market stability
According to Federia, the Federation of Real Estate Agents, short-term leases represent more than 90% of the Brussels rental market.
The new Brussels rental regulation has also introduced other changes from 1 November regarding various aspects of leases, including rental guarantees, charges, insurance, inventory of fixtures, pets, energy-saving works, property tax reduction, relocation costs, and eviction procedures.
