Increased home sales lead to notary shortage

Notaries in Belgium are overworked, and the need for additional personnel is high, according to Het Nieuwsblad and Het Belang van Limburg. The notaries report a 14% increase in the number of mortgage deeds in the last year, as well as an increase in the number of divorces and inheritances.

Since last year, the number of employees at notary offices across the country increased from 7,100 to 7,500, and the upward trend is expected to continue this year, according to Christian Luyten of the Royal Federation of Belgian Notaries.

The low interest rates for housing loans are one of the main reasons for the increased work load. "That has spurred a lot of Belgians to purchase a home now. Between April and June, the number of mortgage deeds increased by 14% compared with the same period last year," says Luyten.