Flemish rent premium according to legislation

Dreaming of a social rental property, but still waiting for the perfect place? The Flemish rental premium supports you during your search. Read here the conditions, the amount, the payment and how to apply for this financial support from the Flemish government!

1. Conditions

The Flemish rent premium is a monthly allowance from the Flemish government for low-income individuals currently waiting for social housing. Notice:

• You are not entitled to the Flemish rent subsidy if you already receive a rent subsidy.
• If you qualify for the Flemish rent premium and rent subsidy, you will receive only the Flemish rent premium.
• If you receive the Flemish rent subsidy and you apply for the Flemish rent subsidy, you will receive the Flemish rent subsidy and the payment of the Flemish rent subsidy will stop.

1.1. Je staat op de wachtlijst voor een sociale huurwoning

You have been registered on the waiting list for social housing with a housing company for at least 4 years and:

• That housing company must operate in the municipality where you live.
• You must be continuously enrolled.

Notice:

• If you move to another municipality where your housing company does not operate, you must register as soon as possible with a housing company that does in your new municipality. This must be approved within 9 months. Otherwise, your right to the rent premium will be forfeited.

1.2. Je huurt een woning

You currently rent a home on the private rental market with a primary residence in the Flemish Region and:

• the address of your rental property is your domicile address on the National Register;
• the lease is in your name.
• Your rental property meets quality standards (Flemish Housing Code).
• Your rental property is a room or independent residence*.

  *An independent dwelling is one with its own kitchen, toilet and bathroom.

1.3. Je voldoet aan de maximale huurprijs

Your rent (base rent without additional costs) is less than the maximum rent of:

Note: You may add 20% for each dependent person, up to a maximum increase of 50%. Find a summary table of the 2024 maximum rents here . Note:

• Your base rent and additional charges should be clearly and separately stated in the lease. If they are not, ask your landlord to add an appendix that does state them.
• If your lease has been in place for at least one year on the application date, you must index the base rent in the lease. That indexed rent is the rent that must meet the maximum rent.

1.4. Je voldoet aan het maximale gezamenlijk jaarinkomen

Your joint annual income*** is up to:

  ***A joint annual income is the sum of all income of the prospective tenant and all resident family members. This income:

• received by your family in the year of the most recent assessment notice (max. 3 years before application date).
• are:
  • the living wage.
  • joint taxable income.
  • individual taxable income.
  • the of tax-exempt professional income acquired at a European, international institution or abroad.
  • income replacement allowance (IVT) for persons with disabilities

1.5. Je voorziet bewijsdocumenten

At the request of agency Wonen in Vlaanderen, you must provide these proofs:

• the child support certificate.
• Proof of your co-parenting.
• The certificate of your recognized disability.
• A copy of your lease.
• Your 3 most recent rent-payment receipts.

2. How much is the Flemish rent premium?

The amount depends on:

• your annual income.
• your rent.
• The start date and signing date of your lease.
• Your family situation: single, number of dependents, etc.
• Your home: independent residence or room.
• your congregation.

  The formula for the rent premium (in rough terms) is: rent premium = reference rent – own contribution Where:

• Reference rent: 75% of the maximum rent.
• Personal contribution: 1/55th of your annual income.

  The maximum Flemish rent premium is:

Simulate your amount with the Flemish rent premium calculation module (download Excel file).  

3. How does the disbursement process work?

You will receive monthly payouts in the next following month. Payouts are made between the 15th and 21st day. So you will not receive the first payout until a month after approval. Please note: You will receive a premium for each month that you met all conditions at the first payout. This up to a maximum of 6 months before the application date.

4. Annual audit

Living in Flanders checks annually whether you still meet all the conditions, on the anniversary of your application date. Do you comply? Then Wonen in Vlaanderen recalculates the amount based on your new annual income, the number of dependents and your municipality.

5. Who is not entitled?

• You earn more than the maximum combined annual income for the Flemish rent subsidy.
• You pay a higher rent than the maximum rent for the Flemish rent premium.
• You live in:
  • a social rental property.
  • A rented property from a housing company.
  • a Vlabinvest home.
• You rent a home from a family member through the second degree living at the same address, such as:
  • (grand)parents.
  • (grand)children.
  • siblings.
• Your entitlement to the Flemish rent premium has been discontinued because:
  • you were assigned social housing.
  • you have been removed from the registration register for renting social housing.
  • you did not register yourself with a new housing company on time after moving.
  • you refused a social housing offer without a groundless reason.
  • you no longer meet the conditions for renting social housing.

6. Applying for Flemish rent subsidy

Step 1: Receive the application form

You will automatically receive a letter from Living in Flanders when you qualify for the rent subsidy. The letter includes the link to the online application and a physical application form. On the envelope is a sticker that says “Open this to get the rent premium!”.

Step 2: Check your eligibility

Double check the conditions. Only submit an application if you meet the conditions, otherwise you will waste time and effort on an application that you know Wonen in Vlaanderen will reject.

Step 3: Submit an application

Digital

• Log in to the Forms Counter at Living in Flanders with your eID or Itsme.
• Click on “Request rent subsidy.”
• Fill in all your information.
• Upload your proof documents.
• Click “confirm.”
• Click “submit.”

Note: All adults within your family must confirm and submit the application!

Written

• Open the letter with the physical application form.
• Fill out the application form with all your information.
• Attach a copy of your lease.
• Attach a copy of (if applicable):
  • the child support certificate.
  • the co-parenting certificate.
  • the certificate of recognized disability.
• Return the letter to the address at the top of the form.

Step 4: Receive a statement of your record

Wonen in Vlaanderen will let you know within a month (after receiving your applications) whether it declares your file complete or incomplete. Is your file incomplete? Then Wonen in Vlaanderen will ask for your missing data via e-mail. If she does not have your e-mail address, she will send you a letter by mail. In that case:

• Please provide them with the missing data as soon as possible.
• Upon receipt, a new check starts.

Step 5: Receive approval or disapproval of your file

Living in Flanders approves or rejects you within 3 months and 10 days (after declaring your file complete). Approval: congratulations! You will receive the first payment in the following month. Disapproval: Unfortunately, you are not entitled to the rent premium. Do you disagree with the decision? Then send a registered letter within 2 months to Wonen in Vlaanderen. Do this even if Wonen in Vlaanderen has not made a decision after the period of 3 months and 10 days. Be sure to mention this in the registered letter:

• Mention that you are appealing.
• Please include your state registration number and file number.

  Send your registered letter to this address of Wonen in Vlaanderen: Wonen in Vlaanderent.a.v. de administrateur-generaalKoningAlbert II laan 15 bus 2531210Brussels 

Would you like to cite this article as a source? Then use:

Stiasteny, L. (2024, November 1). Flemish rent premium according to legislation. Apartment.be. Consulted on (date XX/XX/202X), from https://www.appartement.be/vlaamse-huurpremie-wetgeving/

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