In a move to combat excessive rental prices in the capital, the Brussels Parliament has narrowly passed an ordinance to make the region’s reference rent scale legally binding.
The proposal, spearheaded by the Francophone socialist PS party, was approved by just one vote (eight to seven) amid heated debates and strong opposition from liberal and right-wing parties.
A Divisive Decision
The initiative, backed by PS and Ecolo (Francophone greens), along with Belgium’s Workers’ Party PTB-PVDA (radical left), Groen (Dutch-speaking greens), Vooruit (Dutch-speaking socialists), and Team Fouad Ahidar (centre-left), aims to address the growing rental crisis in Brussels.
“The right to housing is enshrined in the constitution and should be an absolute priority,” said Brussels MP Martian Casier (PS). “Our aim is not to attack landlords but to curb practices that make affordable housing unattainable for many residents.”
Under the new ordinance, landlords will be prohibited from charging rents more than 20% above the designated “reference rent” for a given area. The measure also introduces stricter penalties for properties with serious defects or maintenance issues.
Legal Framework and Tenant Protections
The ordinance activates articles 8 to 13 of a 2021 law that established the Commission Paritaire Locative, a joint tenants’ committee that determines whether rents are fair based on the reference scale. These provisions were never implemented due to a lack of political consensus, but Thursday’s vote revives them.
Tenants who believe they are being charged excessive rent can now submit their contracts for review by the committee or seek a legal ruling from the justice of the peace, who has the authority to impose a revised rent.
Opposition and Concerns
The measure faced strong resistance from French- and Dutch-speaking liberals (MR and Open VLD), the Flemish right-wing N-VA, Francophone centrists Les Engagés, Flemish Christian-Democrats CD&V, and regionalist DéFI.
Critics argue that the reference rent scale is outdated, based on 2020-2022 data, and does not reflect current market conditions.
“This is a rushed vote for political and electoral reasons,” said MR MP Louis de Clippele. “The PS proposal dangerously aligns with PTB-PVDA’s radical positions. Forcing through an unfinished text could harm both landlords and tenants alike.”
MPs Benjamin Dalle (CD&V) and Mathias Vanden Borre (N-VA) cautioned that rent controls might lead to reduced investment in the housing market, exacerbating supply shortages and deteriorating housing conditions.
Joëlle Maison (Défi) and Imane Belguenani (Open VLD) raised concerns about legal uncertainties, advocating for a two-year delay to update the rent scale before implementing the ordinance.
Next Steps
The proposal will be further discussed in a plenary session scheduled for Friday, 4 April. If ratified, the ordinance could come into effect as early as 1 May, marking a significant shift in Brussels’ housing policies and sparking further debate on balancing tenant protections with market stability.
This article was created using automation technology and was thoroughly edited and fact-checked by one of our editorial staff members
