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Tenant charges
My Brussels apartment is rented out whilst I live abroad. The tenant refuses to pay the annual rental increase (as per the official indexation); disputes and refuses to pay most charges. The contract is a standard contract drawn up by an agent. I know I can go down the legal route but I prefer to exert the maximum pressure first. Can I for example threaten to terminate the lease? Can I charge late payment interest, etc. Thanks for any advice.
> tenant refuses to pay
Oh - you got one of those :-(
> threaten to terminate the lease
No.
> charge late payment interest
Yes. There's a standard formula for this - something like 8% APR last time I came across it.
> I prefer to exert the maximum pressure first
Letter: "I understand that you may not be familiar with Belgian law or may not have understood what you think you signed, but unfortunately, it's all there in B&W. You can either pay up of your own accord, or you can wait until it goes through the courts, and then pay up, lose your deposit, and have costs added to that and it be seized from your salary. I am complying with my responsibilities in the contract; you have committed yourself to comply with yours. I do not want the hassle, and I am sure you do not want the expense, of me having to enforce the contract through the courts."
