Do you want to rent a house or apartment by yourself as a 15-year-old? Is that even allowed? What are your options as a minor? Read it here.
Contents
- Can you rent housing as a minor?
- How do I resolve this as a minor?
- What if you have a lease with a minor?
- Do you no longer want to live at home because of problems?
1. Can you rent housing as a minor?
No, according to Belgian law, as a minor you are incapable of acting. You may not enter into any agreements yourself. Exception: An emancipated minor can enter into a rental agreement. The emancipation takes place upon marriage or after approval by the juvenile court at the request of the parents, guardian or minor themselves.
2. How do I resolve this as a minor?
- The judge authorizes a legal representative to perform acts in your place. Usually this is your parents, but this can also be a guardian. If you have a legal representative, he or she can sign your contract without needing authorization from the justice of the peace.
- You can have the contract in the name and account of your legal representative (e.g. parents) (if his/her approval).
3. What if you already have a lease?
Then the agreement is not automatically nullified:
- The legal representative of the minor or the minor himself can take the agreement to court and have it annulled, in case the minor is aggrieved.
- As a landlord, you are not allowed to do this.
4. Do you no longer want to live at home because of problems?
Talk about it (anonymously) with professional help. Chat or call the JAC anonymously and free of charge. They will offer you solutions for your situation.
Sources: CAW, Dewaele, Notary Public
Would you like to cite this article as a source? Then use:
Stiasteny, L. (2024, Dec. 2). Can I rent a house or apartment as a minor? Apartment.com. Consulted on (date XX/XX/202X), from https://www.appartement.be/woning-gekocht-met-verborgen-gebrek/
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