29 rules
I own a home / Renovation
Renovation works that need a permit, reporting to the land register (cadastre), cutting down trees and declaring property abroad.
- ☐ Not allowed: Can I burn dry leaves, branches or rubbish in my garden? — No, in most cases it is not allowed. In Flanders and Brussels, burning garden waste is forbidden. In Wallonia, you may only burn dry garden waste if you are more than 100 metres from houses.
- ☐ Not allowed: Can I enter someone else's home without permission? If I have a key, is it an offence to enter my ex-partner's home? — No. Entering a home where someone else lives without the permission of the people living there is an offence (level 2). Having a key does not mean you have permission.
- ☐ Not allowed: If I am turned away when renting a home, applying for a job or in a shop because of my origin or my religion, is that a crime? — Yes, it can be. Deliberately treating someone differently because of their origin, religion or another protected characteristic is a crime when letting a home, at work, and in goods and services offered to the public (level 2). You can report it to Unia free of charge.
- ☐ Required: I had a bathroom, a veranda or an extra room built in my home; do I have to report this to the tax authorities? — Yes. You must report renovations that increase the value of your home to the land registry within 30 days after the work is finished. If you do not, there is a fine of 1.000 €, 2.000 € or 3.000 €.
- ☐ Required: How far from my neighbour's boundary do I have to plant a tree or hedge? — There are minimum distances. Trees that are at least 2 metres tall must be at least 2 m from the boundary. Other trees, shrubs and hedges must be at least 0,5 m away.
- ☐ Required: Do I need an asbestos certificate when I sell my old house? Can I remove an asbestos roof myself? — In Flanders, yes. When you sell a building constructed before 2001, an asbestos certificate (asbestattest) is required. You can remove intact, bonded asbestos yourself; loose asbestos may only be removed by an approved contractor.
- ☐ Required: Can I put a skip for renovation rubble on the pavement in front of my house? — You must get permission from the municipality first. The pavement, parking spaces and the road are public space; you may not put a skip there without permission.
- ☐ Required: When I move into a rented home, is an inventory of its condition compulsory, and must the lease be registered? — Yes. A detailed inventory of the property's condition must be drawn up when you move in. The landlord must register the lease and the inventory within 2 months of signing. If the lease is not registered, the tenant gains certain rights.
- ☐ Required: I am a tenant: do I have to take out fire insurance? — Yes, in all three regions. As a tenant, you must insure your own liability for fire and water damage. In Brussels, this rule applies to leases signed or renewed from 1 November 2024.
- ☐ Required: Is a smoke detector mandatory at home, and who fits it? — Yes, in all three regions. Your home must have a working smoke detector. In Wallonia and Brussels, the landlord or owner pays for the detector. How many detectors you need and where they go depends on the region.
- ☐ Depends: Can I mow the lawn in my garden on a Sunday? — It depends on the municipality. In all 19 municipalities of Brussels, motorised garden tools are completely forbidden on Sundays and public holidays. The safest choice: do not use motorised tools on Sundays and holidays.
- ☐ Depends: Can I turn my garage into a room or a flat, or split my house into two flats? — Only if you get a building permit. In Flanders and Wallonia, splitting a house, adding an extra flat, or turning a garage or shop into a home requires a permit. In Brussels, a permit is usually needed too; check with your municipality. In Flanders, there are narrow exceptions, such as living with family to provide care ('zorgwonen').
- ☐ Depends: Do I need a permit to build a garden shed, a veranda or a carport? — It depends on the region and the size. Small outbuildings can sometimes be built without a permit if certain conditions are met; if any condition is not met, you need a permit. For a veranda and in Brussels, always ask the municipality.
- ☐ Depends: Can I cut down a big tree in my own garden? — Usually you need a permit. The rules vary a lot between regions, and the municipality can be stricter than the region. Before you cut, ask the municipality's planning or environment department.
- ☐ Depends: My neighbour's tree hangs over my garden. Can I cut the branches back, and can I take the fruit? — It depends. First ask your neighbour to cut the branches back. If they have not done so within 60 days of a registered letter, you can cut back the branches and roots yourself.
- ☐ Depends: Do I need planning permission and an architect to put in a new window or roof window, or to remove a load-bearing wall? — It depends on the region and the type of work. Small façade and roof works may be possible without a permit, subject to conditions. For work involving a load-bearing wall, you almost always need an architect or a permit.
- ☐ Depends: How high can I build a fence or wall in my garden without a permit? — It depends on the region and which part of the garden it is in. In the back garden, a fence up to 2 m high usually does not need a permit. In the front garden, the limit is much lower.
- ☐ Depends: Can my relatives and friends help me for free when I build or renovate my own home? — 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.
- ☐ Depends: Do I need a permit for an in-ground or above-ground pool in my garden? — It depends. A small outdoor pool well away from the boundary often does not need a permit. A large or covered pool, or one close to the boundary, does need a permit. The limits vary a lot from region to region.
- ☐ Depends: Can I put in a window, or build a balcony or terrace, that overlooks my neighbour's garden? — It depends. A window with clear glass, a balcony or a terrace must be at least 1,90 m from the neighbour's boundary. You can never put a window in a shared wall.
- ☐ Depends: Can I raise the wall I share with my neighbour, build against it or make them share the costs? — It depends. You can raise the shared wall at your own expense. But building against the wall and making major changes require your neighbour's consent. Maintenance costs are shared.
- ☐ Depends: My landlord is charging a very high rent for a home in poor condition. Is this an offence, and what can I do? — In some cases, yes. Renting out housing unfit for human dignity to someone in a vulnerable situation in order to make an excessive profit is a criminal offence (level 2). As a tenant, you can contact your region's housing inspection service.
- ☐ Depends: How many months' rent can a landlord ask for as a deposit? Can I pay it to the landlord directly? — It depends on the region. In Brussels and Wallonia the landlord can ask for at most 2 months' rent, in Flanders at most 3 months' rent. The money is paid into a blocked bank account in your name; do not give it to the landlord directly.
- ☐ Depends: Can my landlord raise the rent every year? By how much? — Yes, but only once a year and in line with the health index. The landlord must request it in writing and can backdate it by at most 3 months. In Brussels, and for some older leases, there are limits linked to the energy performance certificate.
- ☐ Depends: Can I end my lease early? Can my landlord make me move out? — Yes, a tenant can always leave by giving 3 months' notice. If you leave in the first few years, you may have to pay compensation. The landlord can only end the lease on grounds set by law and with a long notice period.
- ☐ Depends: May I drill, saw, renovate or make building noise on a Sunday or in the evening? — It depends. There is no single rule for all of Belgium; the hours are mostly set in the municipality's police regulation. Many municipalities ban power tools on Sundays, public holidays and at night. In Brussels, regional hours apply to building sites.
- ☐ Depends: Can I have a steel door fitted in my home? — Yes, in principle you can. In Belgium there is no federal or regional rule that bans steel doors. But in a newer apartment building, your front door may be a fire door. Then the new door must also be fire-resistant and self-closing.
- ☐ Allowed: If we do not make a marriage contract when we marry, what happens to our property? — A contract is not compulsory. Without one, the legal regime applies: what you earn during the marriage is joint property, while what you owned before the marriage and any inheritances remain personal.
- ☐ Allowed: Can we live together legally without marrying? How is legal cohabitation different from marriage? — Yes. You can register a legal cohabitation by making a written declaration at the municipality. It protects the home and covers shared costs, but inheritance and maintenance rights are much more limited than in a marriage.
Do not do this (3)
Neighbours and municipalityNot allowed
Can I burn dry leaves, branches or rubbish in my garden?
No, in most cases it is not allowed. In Flanders and Brussels, burning garden waste is forbidden. In Wallonia, you may only burn dry garden waste if you are more than 100 metres from houses.Open the rule Criminal lawNot allowed· Criminal Code, level 2Can I enter someone else's home without permission? If I have a key, is it an offence to enter my ex-partner's home?
No. Entering a home where someone else lives without the permission of the people living there is an offence (level 2). Having a key does not mean you have permission.Open the rule Criminal lawNot allowed· Criminal Code, level 2If I am turned away when renting a home, applying for a job or in a shop because of my origin or my religion, is that a crime?
Yes, it can be. Deliberately treating someone differently because of their origin, religion or another protected characteristic is a crime when letting a home, at work, and in goods and services offered to the public (level 2). You can report it to Unia free of charge.Open the ruleYou must do this (7)
Home and buildingRequired
I had a bathroom, a veranda or an extra room built in my home; do I have to report this to the tax authorities?
Yes. You must report renovations that increase the value of your home to the land registry within 30 days after the work is finished. If you do not, there is a fine of 1.000 €, 2.000 € or 3.000 €.Open the rule Neighbours and municipalityRequiredHow far from my neighbour's boundary do I have to plant a tree or hedge?
There are minimum distances. Trees that are at least 2 metres tall must be at least 2 m from the boundary. Other trees, shrubs and hedges must be at least 0,5 m away.Open the rule Home and buildingRequiredDo I need an asbestos certificate when I sell my old house? Can I remove an asbestos roof myself?
In Flanders, yes. When you sell a building constructed before 2001, an asbestos certificate (asbestattest) is required. You can remove intact, bonded asbestos yourself; loose asbestos may only be removed by an approved contractor.Open the rule Home and buildingRequiredCan I put a skip for renovation rubble on the pavement in front of my house?
You must get permission from the municipality first. The pavement, parking spaces and the road are public space; you may not put a skip there without permission.Open the rule Home and buildingRequiredWhen I move into a rented home, is an inventory of its condition compulsory, and must the lease be registered?
Yes. A detailed inventory of the property's condition must be drawn up when you move in. The landlord must register the lease and the inventory within 2 months of signing. If the lease is not registered, the tenant gains certain rights.Open the rule Home and buildingRequiredI am a tenant: do I have to take out fire insurance?
Yes, in all three regions. As a tenant, you must insure your own liability for fire and water damage. In Brussels, this rule applies to leases signed or renewed from 1 November 2024.Open the rule Home and buildingRequiredIs a smoke detector mandatory at home, and who fits it?
Yes, in all three regions. Your home must have a working smoke detector. In Wallonia and Brussels, the landlord or owner pays for the detector. How many detectors you need and where they go depends on the region.Open the ruleIt depends (17)
Neighbours and municipalityDepends
Can I mow the lawn in my garden on a Sunday?
It depends on the municipality. In all 19 municipalities of Brussels, motorised garden tools are completely forbidden on Sundays and public holidays. The safest choice: do not use motorised tools on Sundays and holidays.Open the rule Home and buildingDependsCan I turn my garage into a room or a flat, or split my house into two flats?
Only if you get a building permit. In Flanders and Wallonia, splitting a house, adding an extra flat, or turning a garage or shop into a home requires a permit. In Brussels, a permit is usually needed too; check with your municipality. In Flanders, there are narrow exceptions, such as living with family to provide care ('zorgwonen').Open the rule Home and buildingDependsDo I need a permit to build a garden shed, a veranda or a carport?
It depends on the region and the size. Small outbuildings can sometimes be built without a permit if certain conditions are met; if any condition is not met, you need a permit. For a veranda and in Brussels, always ask the municipality.Open the rule Home and buildingDependsCan I cut down a big tree in my own garden?
Usually you need a permit. The rules vary a lot between regions, and the municipality can be stricter than the region. Before you cut, ask the municipality's planning or environment department.Open the rule Neighbours and municipalityDependsMy neighbour's tree hangs over my garden. Can I cut the branches back, and can I take the fruit?
It depends. First ask your neighbour to cut the branches back. If they have not done so within 60 days of a registered letter, you can cut back the branches and roots yourself.Open the rule Home and buildingDependsDo I need planning permission and an architect to put in a new window or roof window, or to remove a load-bearing wall?
It depends on the region and the type of work. Small façade and roof works may be possible without a permit, subject to conditions. For work involving a load-bearing wall, you almost always need an architect or a permit.Open the rule Home and buildingDependsHow high can I build a fence or wall in my garden without a permit?
It depends on the region and which part of the garden it is in. In the back garden, a fence up to 2 m high usually does not need a permit. In the front garden, the limit is much lower.Open the rule Work and moneyDependsCan my relatives and friends help me for free when I build or renovate my own home?
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.Open the rule Home and buildingDependsDo I need a permit for an in-ground or above-ground pool in my garden?
It depends. A small outdoor pool well away from the boundary often does not need a permit. A large or covered pool, or one close to the boundary, does need a permit. The limits vary a lot from region to region.Open the rule Home and buildingDependsCan I put in a window, or build a balcony or terrace, that overlooks my neighbour's garden?
It depends. A window with clear glass, a balcony or a terrace must be at least 1,90 m from the neighbour's boundary. You can never put a window in a shared wall.Open the rule Home and buildingDependsCan I raise the wall I share with my neighbour, build against it or make them share the costs?
It depends. You can raise the shared wall at your own expense. But building against the wall and making major changes require your neighbour's consent. Maintenance costs are shared.Open the rule Criminal lawDepends· Criminal Code, level 2My landlord is charging a very high rent for a home in poor condition. Is this an offence, and what can I do?
In some cases, yes. Renting out housing unfit for human dignity to someone in a vulnerable situation in order to make an excessive profit is a criminal offence (level 2). As a tenant, you can contact your region's housing inspection service.Open the rule Home and buildingDependsHow many months' rent can a landlord ask for as a deposit? Can I pay it to the landlord directly?
It depends on the region. In Brussels and Wallonia the landlord can ask for at most 2 months' rent, in Flanders at most 3 months' rent. The money is paid into a blocked bank account in your name; do not give it to the landlord directly.Open the rule Home and buildingDependsCan my landlord raise the rent every year? By how much?
Yes, but only once a year and in line with the health index. The landlord must request it in writing and can backdate it by at most 3 months. In Brussels, and for some older leases, there are limits linked to the energy performance certificate.Open the rule Home and buildingDependsCan I end my lease early? Can my landlord make me move out?
Yes, a tenant can always leave by giving 3 months' notice. If you leave in the first few years, you may have to pay compensation. The landlord can only end the lease on grounds set by law and with a long notice period.Open the rule Neighbours and municipalityDependsMay I drill, saw, renovate or make building noise on a Sunday or in the evening?
It depends. There is no single rule for all of Belgium; the hours are mostly set in the municipality's police regulation. Many municipalities ban power tools on Sundays, public holidays and at night. In Brussels, regional hours apply to building sites.Open the rule Home and buildingDependsCan I have a steel door fitted in my home?
Yes, in principle you can. In Belgium there is no federal or regional rule that bans steel doors. But in a newer apartment building, your front door may be a fire door. Then the new door must also be fire-resistant and self-closing.Open the ruleAllowed (2)
Family and childrenAllowed