Brussels – The Council of Europe (CoE) has ruled that Belgium violated the right to housing, singling out Flanders for its failure to ensure adequate and affordable housing.
The European Committee of Social Rights (ECSR), which published its ruling on Wednesday, confirmed serious breaches of the European Social Charter, citing unaffordable rents, discrimination, and inadequate responses to homelessness.
The case was brought before the ECSR in December 2021 by the European Federation of National Organisations working with the Homeless (FEANTSA) and Woonzaak, a coalition of over 70 NGOs advocating for housing rights.
The organisations argued that Flanders’ housing policies contravened the European Social Charter, which Belgium ratified.
A ‘Wake-Up Call’ for Flanders
FEANTSA Director Freek Spinnewijn described the ruling as a “damning verdict” and a “wake-up call” for authorities. “Housing is a fundamental human right, yet thousands of people in the Flemish Region continue to face unaffordable rents, homelessness, and discrimination,” he said.
The Committee found that Flanders had failed to provide access to affordable housing for low-income households. The private rental market, which houses a significant portion of the population, was also criticised for lacking adequate tenant protections.
The ruling further condemned Flanders for failing to combat discrimination in the housing sector. A study in Leuven found that men with names that did not sound Belgian consistently received fewer invitations to view rental properties, highlighting structural bias.
Discriminatory practices also exist within the social housing system, where eligibility conditions, such as local connection rules, disproportionately affect migrants and vulnerable families.
Homelessness and Policy Failures
The ECSR also flagged the Flemish government’s failure to address homelessness, criticising the lack of a comprehensive strategy and inadequate data collection on evictions and homelessness. Without reliable data, advocacy groups argue, authorities cannot take effective action.
Although the complaint targeted Flanders, it was filed against Belgium because the European Social Charter applies to the national level.
“We had to launch the complaint against Belgium because it ratified the charter,” FEANTSA’s MarÃa José Aldanas told The Brussels Times. “But most of the decision can also be applied to the rest of Belgium.”
Urgent Reforms Demanded
Following the ruling, FEANTSA and Woonzaak called on Belgian authorities to implement immediate reforms. Their recommendations include:
- Creating a housing strategy that prioritises low-income households
- Expanding the social housing supply
- Eliminating discriminatory barriers in social housing allocation
- Strengthening tenant protections in the private rental sector
- Improving data collection on homelessness and evictions
Flemish Housing Minister Melissa Depraetere (Vooruit) acknowledged the severity of the crisis. “There is a major shortage of affordable housing, especially in the rental market.
Rents have doubled in 20 years. This cannot go on,” she said in a statement. “That is why I am going to intervene.”
However, housing advocates stress that concrete policy changes, rather than political statements, are needed to ensure that Flanders and Belgium comply with their human rights obligations. The Council of Europe’s ruling places mounting pressure on authorities to act before the crisis worsens further.
This article was created using automation technology and was thoroughly edited and fact-checked by one of our editorial staff members
