How to prepare an apartment or house for rent in Belgium

Renting out an apartment or house involves more than taking a few photos and choosing a rent. A property ready to live in, clear information and well-organised paperwork help prospective tenants understand the offer and allow the landlord to prepare for a smoother rental.

Here is a practical method for preparing a residential rental in Belgium, from the first property check to handing over the keys. Tourist rentals, subletting and some student accommodation follow specific rules.

1. Check the property before publishing the listing

Visit your property as if you were going to move in. Open the windows, test the equipment and look at the rooms in daylight. Note any repairs needed before setting an availability date.

• Water and sanitary fittings: taps, drains, toilet flushes, seals and signs of leaks.
• Heating and ventilation: operation, applicable servicing requirements, vents and hot water supply.
• Electricity: damaged sockets or switches, lighting and visible faults to have checked by a professional.
• Doors and windows: closing mechanisms, locks, glazing and the condition of handles.
• Damp: water ingress, persistent condensation and mould.
• Included equipment: appliances, furniture, shutters, garage and access to communal areas.

A fresh coat of paint will not fix a leak. Address the cause of a problem before covering up its signs. For technical work, call a qualified professional rather than settling for a temporary repair.

2. Check the obligations in the relevant Region

The rules are not the same in Brussels, Wallonia and Flanders. Check those that apply where the property is located, along with any municipal requirements. The energy certificate does not replace safety or housing quality checks.

Region	Points to check before renting out the property
Brussels-Capital	Property compliance, PEB certificate, information to provide to prospective tenants and rules on rent.
Wallonia	PEB certificate and indicators in advertising; rental permit for certain small dwellings and shared housing.
Flanders	EPC, quality standards, smoke detectors and any municipal requirement to have a conformiteitsattest.

In Brussels

The landlord must inform prospective tenants about the property, rent, charges, individual meters and PEB, among other things. Consult the official steps for renting out a property in Brussels to prepare this information.

In Wallonia

The PEB certificate must be available before the property is offered for rent, and its indicators must appear in advertising. The procedure and accredited professionals are presented on the page obtaining a PEB certificate in Wallonia.

A rental permit is required in particular for certain shared housing and small individual dwellings of 28 m² or less. Exemptions exist: check your situation on the rental permit page rather than assuming that all properties follow the same procedure.

In Flanders

The property must meet housing quality standards and have the necessary smoke detectors. The EPC must be available before the property is offered for rent; advertisements must include the required information, notably on price, energy and flood risk. Consult the official guide for landlords in Flanders.

Also ask your municipality’s housing department whether a conformiteitsattest is mandatory for your property. This requirement may depend on local regulations: information on housing quality.

3. Clean and repair without unnecessary spending

Start with work that genuinely improves everyday use: a leak, a faulty closing mechanism, broken equipment or inadequate ventilation. Then clean the windows, kitchen, sanitary fittings, floors and storage areas.

Remove personal items and unnecessary furniture to make it easier to move around. For a furnished property, keep a precise list of the furniture and equipment that will remain. A simple, clean interior makes it easier to understand the space without creating a misleading impression.

Give a realistic availability date. If work is still ongoing, allow some extra time and explain what will be finished before the tenant moves in.

4. Set the rent and present charges clearly

Compare properties of the same type in a nearby area, with similar floor area, number of bedrooms and condition. A garden, lift, parking space or good energy performance can affect the comparison. Prices shown in listings do not prove the rents actually agreed.

In Brussels, consult the reference rent and the rules on excessive rents. The reference rent must be stated in the lease alongside the rent requested; since 1 May 2025, landlords may not propose an excessive rent. Comparing listings is therefore not enough to check whether the amount complies with the rules.

In Flanders, the Huurschatter, recommended by Vlaanderen.be, can provide an additional point of reference.

• Separate the base rent from the charges.
• Explain what the charges cover and whether they are fixed amounts or advance payments.
• Specify which utility costs the tenant will pay separately.
• State whether parking, the cellar or furniture are included in the price.

For an advance payment, explain how the final reconciliation works. Avoid saying “all-inclusive” if some expenses remain the tenant’s responsibility.

5. Take photos that are useful to future tenants

Photograph the property in daylight, after cleaning. Show every room and the ancillary spaces included. Avoid filters and camera angles that artificially make spaces look larger.

1. Choose a clear view of the living room for the first photo.
2. Show the kitchen, bathroom and every bedroom.
3. Include storage areas, the balcony, garden or parking space if they are part of the rental.
4. Photograph important features, such as a staircase or a room with sloping ceilings.
5. Add a legible floor plan if you have one and are allowed to use it.

Check that no documents, private portraits or sensitive personal items are visible. If the property is still occupied, agree on photos and viewings with the occupant and respect their privacy. Published images must represent the actual property offered, not a generated interior or another apartment.

6. Write a listing that helps people decide

A good title gives the property type, municipality and a useful feature. In the text, describe the rooms precisely rather than piling on adjectives such as “exceptional” or “magnificent”.

Information	What the reader needs to understand
Location	Municipality, neighbourhood and useful transport links, without vague claims about distances.
Floor area and layout	Verified floor area, bedrooms, floor, lift and ancillary spaces.
Price	Rent, charges, included items and separate expenses.
Energy and equipment	Required PEB or EPC information, heating and available equipment.
Availability	Possible move-in date and whether the property is furnished or unfurnished.
Viewings	Contact details and arrangements for appointments.

Once this paperwork is ready, you can offer your house or apartment for rent on OnLa.be. Use your photos and verified information: a complete listing helps interested people see whether the property matches their search before contacting you.

Before publishing, reread the listing on a phone. Is the monthly cost clear? Is the availability date visible? Do the photos show all the important rooms? Clear up any ambiguities before the first viewings.

7. Organise viewings and prepare the lease

Prepare a fact sheet with the property’s features, charges and answers to common questions. During the viewing, show the equipment and explain any limitations of the property. Do not promise work or services you do not intend to provide.

To assess applications, use objective criteria related to the rental. Find out what information you may request, avoid discriminatory criteria and do not collect unnecessary personal documents. Store the data you receive carefully.

Choose a lease suited to the Region and intended use: a main residence, shared tenancy or student accommodation, for example. In Brussels, official templates and a mandatory annex are available. In Wallonia, consult the information and templates for residential leases.

Check the rules that apply to the duration, rental deposit, insurance and indexation. Do not automatically use the same contract for a property in another Region.

8. Prepare for the tenant’s arrival

Arrange a detailed condition report jointly with both parties or their representatives. Describe existing defects and equipment; photos can supplement this document. For a furnished property, attach a detailed inventory.

• Read the meters and record their numbers.
• Count the keys, access fobs and remote controls handed over.
• Provide manuals and useful instructions for the property.
• Provide contacts in case of a breakdown or emergency.
• Check the applicable deposit and insurance formalities.

Also plan to register the lease: for a property used exclusively for residential purposes, the landlord must do this within two months of signing. Consult the federal information on registration and, for Brussels, regional procedure, including Irisrent, to check which steps apply to you.

Checklist before renting out a property

• The property is safe, clean and ready for use.
• Necessary repairs are complete or their schedule is clearly established.
• Regional and municipal obligations have been checked.
• The energy certificate and the information for the listing are ready.
• Rent and charges are presented separately and clearly.
• The photos accurately show the property.
• The lease, condition report and key handover are prepared.

You then have the essentials to take action: present a well-prepared property, publish a clear listing and organise viewings. If you would like to list it on OnLa.be, your paperwork is already ready to form the basis of the listing.

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Information checked on 8 October 2026 against the official sources cited. This article covers preparing a residential rental; check the rules specific to your Region, municipality and type of lease before committing.