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

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.

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.

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.

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.