Revising rent during a lease in Brussels: the three-yearly review

During a lease, rent is in principle fixed. Indexation follows the cost of living but cannot catch up with the market. For that, the law provides a single route: review, possible at the end of each three-year period.

The timetable

1. Between the 9th and 6th month before the end of a three-year period, either party proposes a review, upwards or downwards.
2. If the other party agrees, the new rent applies from the start of the next three-year period.
3. Without agreement, the requesting party can apply to the justice of the peace between the 6th and 3rd month before the end of the period.

What the judge can grant

The judge only grants a review in two cases:

• new circumstances have changed the normal rental value of the property by at least 20% compared with the rent paid;
• works carried out at the landlord's expense have increased the rental value by at least 10%, excluding works needed to bring the home up to habitability standards.

Energy-saving works

An increase can also be agreed when the landlord funds energy performance works, or works adapting the home to the tenant's disability. Agreement must be obtained at least one month before the works begin.

What BDW Invest does

We track each three-year date and alert you in time to properties whose rent has drifted well away from the market. If a review is justified, we prepare the request and the arguments.

Sources: Bruxelles-J, rent review and indexation