Renting in brussels

[littlealien01]

Hello,

Ive seen a few comments on old threads about landlords/agencies checking you earn 3 x the monthly rent. Can anyone clarify to what extent this happens/is a requirement? It would limit our rental budget below what seems to be at all realistic so its a concern.

Thanks

[amyboo]

I never experienced this when I was renting in BXL. You will need to put 3 months rent in a blocked account with the bank (security deposit for the flat) though.

[gastrognome]

It was certainly standard practice in Paris when I lived there, but nobody ever checked our income when renting in Brussels.
But yes you do usually need the 3 month deposit as Amyboo says, and you need to be careful about the type of lease.

[cannotseeanend]

It's common practice to ask for the last few payslips, expect to be asked, it's a rule of them that you should rent at no higher than a third of your monthly net income.

It's 2 months not 3 months maximum by law, for a 9 years contract. Most people use a blocked account. The alternative is for a modest fee, to get that 2 months effectively loaned to you by the bank, for those who don't have the initial 2 months in excess to put in a blocked account. There is a mumsnetter I know did this on her last rental.

[cannotseeanend]

And if it makes you feel better, my rent is over half my monthly net income, not that it was when the contract was signed, and I have a large family, I manage.

Be sure you think you can manage, if you do go over 1/3.