Renting options in Brussels
Are you staying in Belgium short-term? Or do you just not have the funds to buy a property outright? Then you might be looking for rental options in Brussels. In that case, we're here to show you your options for renting in Brussels.
Your rental options in Brussels
Your main choices for rentals in Brussels include rooms, student housing, apartments, aparthotels, and houses. Do note that while most Belgians don't rent out their houses, Brussels is an exception due to the high number of expats in the area. So you're in luck if you're looking for a larger property.
Rooms
One of the cheapest renting options available in Brussels is taking up just a room. This is why it's very popular with students who choose not to live in on-campus housing. It's also great for single expats on a tight budget. Expect to pay around €300 a month for a room that's just over 10 square meters big.
Student housing
There are five universities in Brussels, many of which have on-campus housing in dorms. You'll have to make arrangements with your university to get housing. Expect to pay anywhere between €250 to €500 a month for a dorm room.
Apartments
This is the most common type of rental you'll find in Brussels. It's perfect for both single people and couples. Some 2-bedroom apartments are even ideal for young families.
Expect to pay €800 to €1,000 for a 1-bedroom apartment and between €1,000 to €1,500 for a 2-bedroom apartment.
Aparthotels
Aparthotels are like apartments, but will several key differences that make them more convenient to live in. For example, they're fully furnished, and a bunch of services are included in the price, such as cleaning, insurance, and internet. Also, any issues with the apartment are fixed by the owner.
However, aparthotels are much more expensive to live in because they're basically like hotels. They can cost over €100 per night. It's more ideal to stay in aparthotels temporarily while you're searching for a place rather than on a long-term basis.
Houses
If you're moving to Brussels with your family, then you might want to rent a house. You might have to check more rural places, but the prices aren't too bad. Expect to pay anywhere between €1,600 to €2,000 a month for a 3-bedroom house.
Things you should know about renting an apartment in Brussels
Most apartments are rented out as unfurnished, but it's probably not an "unfurnished" you're familiar with. In fact, you might see the term "shell". This means there aren't things like stoves, refrigerators, curtains, flooring, light fixtures, etc. You might be able to purchase these things from the previous tenant so you don't have to go out shopping and can have these things as soon as you move in.
Also, utilities are your responsibility. Some landlords might cover water and sewage, but that doesn't happen often, so expect to pay fully for water, sewage, electricity, and gas.
When it comes to the contract, you can either choose a short-term (under three years) or long-term contract (over nine years). What might surprise you is that the nine-year contract is actually more beneficial since it's more flexible. If you decide to end your short-term contract early, you have to pay out the rest of the contract. Whereas with the long-term contract, you only pay up to three months' rent if you leave in the first three years. If you leave after four years, there are no penalties.
