Flemish rent subsidy according to legislation

Have you moved into a new rental house or rental apartment? If so, you may receive the Flemish rent subsidy. Read here when you get this subsidy, how much it amounts to and how to apply for it.

1. Conditions

The Flemish rent subsidy is a monthly allowance from the Flemish government for low-income individuals who have just moved. Notice:

• Since November 2023, you are no longer required to register for social housing.
• You are not entitled to the Flemish rent subsidy if you are already receiving 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 oude woning voldoet aan deze eisen

The property you left must meet one of these requirements:

• The property is located in the Flemish Region and was declared uninhabitable or overcrowded when it was your primary residence.
• The property is in the Flemish Region and was declared unfit, when it was your primary residence and:
  • on the home inspector’s technical report, there are at least 2 Category II or Category III defects.
• The property is located in the Flemish Region and is not primarily intended for habitation and the Flemish Housing Inspectorate identified health or safety risk and/or lack of basic facilities there. E.g. a garage or warehouse.
• The property is on a licensed campsite, which had been your primary residence since 2001.
• The property is effectively demolished no later than 9 months after the start of your new lease. A demolition permit does not suffice.
• The home is not adapted to the physical condition of you or a resident family member is/is at least 65 years old.
• The home is not adapted to the physical condition of you or a resident family member is/is severely disabled.

Notice:

• Your right to the Flemish rent subsidy expires if:
  • the owner of the home repaired the defects of on the technical report and the home is again compliant before you moved in.
  • the owner of the property repaired the defects and the property is again compliant before you signed a lease with your new home.

  The property need not meet the above requirements if:

• You received an installation grant from the CPAS.
• you move into a rented home from your housing company.
• you were homeless and you received one of these 2 cases from the OCMW specifically granted for the property you are now renting and for which you are applying for the Flemish rent subsidy:
  • the increase in the living wage.
  • the installation premium.

1.2. Je huurt een woning en die voldoet aan deze eisen

You currently rent a home with primary residence in the Flemish Region and:

• your home must comply with smoke alarm requirements.
• Your home is adapted to the number of family members.
• your home must not have serious defects, safety or health hazards.
• your home is not subsidized social housing that you rent from a housing company, municipality or CPAS.
• your home is adapted to the physical condition of you or a resident family member if they are at least 65 years old or have a severe disability.

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 hebt geen grond of gebouw in eigendom

Specifically, this means:

• You do not have land or building (intended for residential construction) in full or partial ownership or usufruct.
• You do not have a full or partial right of leasehold or superficies on a land or building.

  This rule does not count as:

• you could not continue to live there and the property was expropriated.
• your home was declared uninhabitable or unfit and vacated no more than 2 months before application.
• You are recognized as a person with a disability and are enrolled in an Activities of Daily Living (ADL) home.
• your property is in a spatial zoning zone in Belgium where living is not allowed.
• you lost the right to manage your property due to bankruptcy or because an agency acquired your property.
• you own the home or land in full ownership with your ex-partner and you are still married, but the marriage is irretrievably disrupted.
• you have partial ownership of the home or land and you acquired it free of charge through avenues such as inheritance or gift.

1.6. Je voorziet bewijsdocumenten

At the request of agency Wonen in Vlaanderen, you must provide these proofs (if applicable):

• 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.
• the unfitness, uninhabitability or overcrowding declaration.

2. How much is the Flemish rent subsidy?

2.1. Bedrag van de Vlaamse huursubsidie

The amount of rent subsidy 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 rent subsidy (in rough terms) is: rent subsidy = reference rent – own contribution Where:

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

  The maximum Flemish rent subsidy is:

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

2.2. Eenmalige installatiepremie

In addition to the rent subsidy, you will receive a one-time installation bonus. This is 3 times your monthly rent subsidy. You will not receive this if:

• as a homeless or homeless person, you already obtained an installation grant from the PCSW when you moved into your new home.
• You sublet a property from a housing company.
• you have ever already received an installation premium from Living in Flanders.

3. How does the disbursement process work?

You will receive monthly payouts. Payouts are made in the last week of each month. You will receive your first disbursement within 4 months of approval. You will receive a subsidy for each month that you met all the conditions with the first disbursement. This up to a maximum of 2 months before the application date. The Flemish Government pays the Flemish rent subsidy for a maximum of 9 years, as long as you meet the conditions. Persons older than 65 or persons with a recognized disability can receive the Flemish rent subsidy for an indefinite period of time. Notice:

• If you rent a rented property from a housing company, Wonen in Vlaanderen pays the subsidy into the housing company’s account. Your housing company deducts this amount from your rent.
• If you received advance payments of rent subsidy from an OCMW, Wonen in Vlaanderen sometimes pays the subsidy into the account of the OCMW. Contact your OCMW in this case.

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. You will receive an official letter with the new amount.

5. Who is not entitled?

• You move into social housing that you rent directly from a housing company, municipality or CPAS.

6. Applying for Flemish rent subsidy

Apply for the Flemish rent subsidy after you have moved, and up to 9 months after the start date of your new rental contract. You will receive the subsidy the first time up to 2 months before your application. So it’s best to apply for it quickly!

Step 1: Check if you meet the requirements

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 2: Submit an application

Digital

• Log in to the Forms Counter at Living in Flanders with your eID or Itsme.
• Click on “Start application for 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

• Fill out the application form with all your information. Do you rent a rented property from your housing company? Then use this customized application form.
• Attach a copy of your lease.
• Attach a copy of (if applicable):
  • the child support certificate.
  • the co-parenting certificate.
  • the certificate of severe disability.
  • The medical certificate of the 65+ person or person with severe disability.
• Return the letter to the address at the top of the form.

Step 3: 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 4: Living in Flanders checks your new home

Living in Flanders checks whether your current rental property meets the requirements. For this, Wonen in Vlaanderen may come on site. If this is the case, you will receive a written notice in advance. Make sure the house is accessible at the time of the investigation. Note: Let the investigator know as soon as possible if you cannot be present and if no one can grant you access. Then agree on a new date.

Step 5: Receive complete statement from Living in Flanders

Living in Flanders declares your file complete. You will therefore receive a complete declaration.

Step 6: Receive approval or disapproval of your file

Living in Flanders approves or rejects you within 3 months (after declaring your file complete). Approval: congratulations! You will receive the first payment within 4 months. Disapproval: Unfortunately, you are not entitled to the rent subsidy. Do you disagree with the decision, calculation or cessation? Then send a registered letter within 3 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.
• Please include your first name, surname and address.

  Send your registered letter to this address of Wonen in Vlaanderen: Wonen in VlaanderenDienstbetaalbaar wonen – Team huursubsidieKoningAlbert II laan 15 bus 2531210Brussels 

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

Stiasteny, L. (2024, April 12). Flemish rent subsidy according to legislation. Apartment.be. Consulted on (date XX/XX/202X), from https://www.appartement.be/vlaamse-huursubsidie-volgens-wetgeving/

Related articles:

• Flemish rent premium according to legislation
• Terms of the Flemish Housing Guarantee (2025).
• Flemish municipalities with higher maximum rent