Brussels, 1 April 2025 - Last Thursday, after several weeks of hearings and heated debates, the Brussels Parliament approved, by a narrow majority, the left-wing initiative aimed at stepping up the fight against abusive rents, while paving the way for binding rent regulation. For the property sector, the proposed measures, which will come into force in May, will have the opposite of the desired effect on the housing market. Strengthening the application of an obsolete rent scale will not lead to less abusive rents; on the contrary, it will further reduce the supply of rental accommodation, ultimately increasing pressure on the housing market. The property sector warns that by increasing the obstacles for investors, Brussels runs the risk of seeing them go elsewhere. Without them, the construction of new housing could stagnate even further, making access to affordable housing even more unrealistic.
An obsolete basis with disastrous consequences
The rent scale on which the new measure is based dates back five years. It does not take account of the current reality of the Brussels rental market, which is characterised by a shortage of rental accommodation and rising rents.
Applying this obsolete scale, almost 50% of new leases would be considered as unfair rent contracts. What message does this send to potential investors in the Brussels market? This presumption of abusive rents is bound to dissuade these investors, even though they play an important role in ensuring an adequate supply of housing in Brussels. In fact, 86% of rental housing in Brussels is provided by private players.
‘Nothing is more volatile than capital’, declare the 8 concerned federations. ‘When investors pull out, the boost needed to increase supply and stabilise the rental market is lost’.
A sensitive political issue requiring a considered approach
The UPSI-BVS was invited to appear before the Brussels Parliament, along with Embuild (the construction industry federation) and the SNPC (Syndicat National des Propriétaires et Copropriétaires). Together they explained their position and warned of the harmful long-term effects of new measures to regulate rents in the housing market.
This warning was completely ignored, much to the disappointment of the property and construction industry. The sector is therefore repeating its demand that such sensitive political issues as this be discussed at government level.
The 8 sector federations are urging the suspension of this hasty measure and are asking that we wait until the registration of leases, which has been in force since 1 January 2025, takes effect. It is only through an in-depth review of the rent scale based on recent and relevant rent data, and consultation with all the economic players, that a realistic and balanced rental policy can be developed, benefiting both tenants and investors and guaranteeing the stability of the rental market.
Contact persons
UPSI-BVS: Katrien Kempe – Administrator katrien.kempe@upsi-bvs.be – +32 486 66 10 65
Embuild Brussels: Laurent Schiltz – Secretary General laurent.schiltz@embuild.be – +32 495 58 17 71
SNPC-NEMS: Patrick Willems – Secretary General patrick.willems@snpc-nems.be – +32 491 15 15 75
Federia: Charlotte De Thaye – General Manager charlotte.dethaye@federia.immo – +32 474 47 65 80
CIB: Kristophe Thijs – Communications Director +32 476 60 43 61
Unizo: Julie Huntz – Teamleader Brussels-Capital Region julie.huntz@unizo.be
Beci: Maïlys Charlier Zenari – Marketing & Communication Manager mcz@beci.be – +32 484 86 28 06
UCM : Julie Lambotte – Advisor Brussels-Capital Region julie.lambotte@ucm.be – +32 476 80 71 45
