About a third of Brussels rents could be too high, figures show

Almost one in three rents in the Brussels region are more than 20% too expensive, according to figures released by Brussels minister for housing Nawal Ben Hamou (Socialist).

Since the start of 2025, some 12,692 leases have been registered in Brussels under the new regional registration requirement.

Of these, 26.5% are non-compliant – in other words they are more than 20% above the reference rent.

If contracts from public housing companies and social rental agencies are not considered, the number of non-compliant rental agreements increases to almost 31%.

At present, there is only a “presumption” of non-compliance. To check, a detailed examination of the property must take place to see if the rent really is excessive. Extra comfort, such as a large terrace, can justify a higher rent, for example.

Conversely, a property with serious defects can be considered too expensive, even if the rent is less than 20% above the reference level.

Since 1 May, rents in Brussels must not exceed the reference rent by more than 20%, according to a rental price grid.

This takes into account, among other things, the number of rooms, the habitable surface area and the energy performance certificate (PEB). Tenants can submit their contract to a joint rental committee, which decides whether the rent is reasonable.

The committee, in which tenants' and landlords" organisations are represented, can issue a non-binding opinion that can be used by the justice of the peace to negotiate a revised amount.

Since the regional registration requirement entered into force, 77 files have been submitted, two of which were submitted directly by a justice of the peace.

About 40 of them are still pending, three were suspended and 34 were completed. In the latter group, 11 applications were withdrawn, and one request was declared unfounded. In 17 cases the rent turned out not to be excessive, while in five it was.

Critics fear that the stricter rules will encourage landlords to take their properties off the market and so exacerbate the housing shortage. However, Ben Hamou said that there was no evidence this is happening, at least for the time being.

“I have heard a lot about a decrease in the number of rental homes, but there are no figures on that,” she told the committee. “If those figures are available, I would like to see them.”