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Contract: furnished vs unfurnished apartment

Question

Dear all,

Several years ago I was told that if a furnished apartment is rented out as unfurnished, this entails sanctions for the landlord. Is this still valid and if yes, what is the body where one should lodge a complaint?

Thank you very much in advance!

becasse

If one rents out unfurnished accommodation (which could be a house or apartment), the rental income is not subject to personal income tax (provided the premises aren't used for business purposes. If, however, one rents out furnished accommodation, the proportion of the rental income that is attributable to the furnishings IS subject to personal income tax.

May 18, 2019 21:32
easybreezy

Dear Becasse,

Thank you so much for this prompt and helpful reply!

I was also wondering if someone could help me and tell me what institution I should address to file a complaint about renting an furnished apartment as unfurnished.

I live in Brussels. Shall I address an institution of the Brussels Region or a federal institution? And which one? Any suggestions would be very helpful!

Thank you once again, Becasse! And a big thank-you in advance to those who could give me information on the relevant institution as well.

May 19, 2019 10:58
anon

@EASYBREEZY, sorry but your question is far from clear.

Are you living in a furnished or an unfurnished apartment?

May 19, 2019 14:30
easybreezy

Dear Anon,

Sorry for not being clear. I live in a furnished apartment which is rented out as unfurnished.

If you know how I should proceed, I will be most grateful to you for advice.

Thank you!

May 19, 2019 16:04
cmabey

What's puzzling me is why you would want to grass your landlord to the authorities when you were the one who decided to sign the lease in the first place ?
I'd say that makes you complicit in the matter.

Is it a revenge thing ? Whatever, it is hardly likely to make things easier for yourself if you plan to continue living there or ever need to leave earlier than the contract stipulates.

May 19, 2019 16:49
becasse

Actually, if the lease says that your flat is rented to you unfurnished, then all the furniture in it must belong to you, the landlord obviously donated it to you. Simples!

May 19, 2019 19:03
easybreezy

Dear Becasse,

This is a brilliant idea, indeed! :-) Well, I think that I might show some magnanimity and donate it back to the landlord. As a farewell present ;-)

Thank you for your help and for your brilliant idea, too! :-)

May 19, 2019 19:09
easybreezy

@Cmabey
Well, I don't think I need to explain myself, but to satiate your (intellectual?) curiosity:
Indeed, I am going to leave because there have been many defects and many irregularities. What's worse, the landlord is not at all co-operative, to put it mildly, not to say that he is plain rude.
When I was considering my situation, I remembered what someone told me years ago (see the question in the initial post).
It is hardly surprising that the landlord is cheating me _and_the authorities. I think I would be complicit if I do not inform the authorities about this, as well as about other irregularities.
If you have answers to my specific questions, I would be happy to read your posts. If not, please, do not go off-topic. Thank you in advance on both counts.

May 19, 2019 19:18
RPPKN

This is tax fraud so the SPF Finances is the correct body to handle it. Their contact details are at https://finances.belgium.be/fr/Contact

May 20, 2019 08:23
easybreezy

Dear Rppkn,

Thank you so much! This is extremely useful information. I really felt rather confused about what institution to address...

Thank you most sincerely once again.

With best wishes,
e.

May 20, 2019 14:16

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