Can my relatives and friends help me for free when I build or renovate my own home?
In short
It depends. Occasional, unpaid help from a close relative, without you giving them instructions, is usually not a problem. Regular or paid help, or undeclared help from someone receiving unemployment benefit, does cause problems.
Video transcript
You're renovating your home. Your cousin, who gets unemployment benefit, comes to help every day. It depends: Occasional, unpaid help from a close relative is usually fine. If they're paid and work under your instructions, it can count as undeclared work. The right way: A helper on benefit must report it to the payment body with form C45A before starting. You fill in the form too. If not reported: Unemployed helper: Benefit claimed back; Also: Suspended from benefit; If seen as employee: Heavy penalty, even prison.
What is not allowed, what is required?
- The law does not give a clear list of “how distant a relative may be and still help”. Inspectors look at whether money is involved, whether the help is regular and whether one person is giving the other instructions.
- Occasional, unpaid help from close relatives is usually not a problem; but inspectors look at whether money, regularity or instructions are involved.
- Help from friends can make inspectors suspect undeclared work. If the person gets money or another benefit in return and works under your instructions (e.g. at hours you set), they can be treated as an employee and must be declared.
- If someone receiving unemployment benefit is going to help you for free, they must report it to their benefit payment body (trade union or HVW / CAPAC) on form C45A before they start. You fill in the form as well.
- An unemployed person may carry out maintenance and repairs on their own home. Work that adds a lot to the value of the house (for example, a garage or an extension) is not compatible with the benefit; you can ask RVA / ONEM in writing in advance (C45C).
Penalty and indirect consequences
- Fine / payment
- An unemployed person who helps without reporting it loses their benefit for those days; the money paid is reclaimed and they can be suspended from benefit for a few weeks.
Legal basis:RVA – Vrijwillige activiteit
- Court / prison
- If the helper is treated as an employee, undeclared employment can lead to heavy penalties (including prison) under the Social Criminal Code.
Legal basis:Sociaal Strafwetboek, art. 181 §1 (Justel; W 30.5.2026)
What really matters: the indirect consequences
- If the helper is treated as an employee, Fedris pays compensation for an accident at work and then recovers the money from the homeowner.
Legal basis:Arbeidsongevallenwet 10.4.1971, art. 58 §1 3°, 60
- The inspection report can affect both the homeowner and the helper
Legal basis:Sociaal Strafwetboek, art. 183/1, 181
- “Free” help from a tradesman who works in the construction industry can also be questioned during an inspection
Legal basis:WBTW, art. 19 §2, 2° (W 29.11.2017, BS)
Why does this rule exist?
The rules prevent undeclared work and make sure helpers are not left uninsured. Unemployment benefit is meant for people who are not working and are looking for work.
Where can you go?
- Accountant or social secretariatDimona, e-invoicing and tax obligations
- Organisations for self-employed peopleFlanders: Unizo · Wallonia and Brussels: UCM
- Tax office (FOD Financiën / SPF Finances)Declaring foreign property and accounts
- Social interpreterAt the municipality, the OCMW/CPAS, school and hospital, you can ask for an interpreter in your language; it is often free.
This site does not handle individual cases; it points you to the right service. All help addresses
Source and reliability
Official source- Source check
- 10 / 10 statements in an official source
- Checked: 02.11.2026
- Last checked
- 12.10.2026
- Rules can change
Show the 10 checked statementsopen
- Found in an official source
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The checked statements are in Turkish, as in the source text. This check does not replace legal advice.
General information, not legal advice. For your own situation, ask a lawyer or free legal aid. How was this information prepared?