Renting in Flanders: demand up, homes down

Finding a rental home in Flanders has become increasingly difficult. Over the past five years, the number of people looking to rent has doubled, while the supply of rental homes has fallen. This mismatch is pushing rents up and leaving many people stuck on waiting lists for months or even years.

Single parents are among the hardest hit. Eva and Lise, both single mothers with steady jobs and savings, struggled for months to find a home after separating from their partners. Eva viewed 47 properties in one year and was rejected each time. She says landlords often prefer couples with two incomes and may also discriminate against people with non-Belgian names.

An undercover investigation by the VRT programme WinWin shows these cases are not unusual. Out of 45 rental homes, researchers were invited to view just 16. Estate agents say 150 candidates for one property is no exception.

According to property network CIB, demand is rising because more people live alone and more over-60s are choosing to rent. The shortage of social housing adds further pressure, with around 200,000 families on waiting lists.

Meanwhile, the number of rental homes is shrinking. Tax changes, stricter energy rules and the growth of short-term letting platforms are pushing landlords to sell.

The result is higher rents. In five years, average monthly rent has risen by 25 per cent, from €717 to €893. 

Flemish minister-president Matthias Diependaele, talking to VTM on Sunday, says the problem comes down to “supply and demand”. He points to migration and the rise of smaller households as key drivers of demand. Diependaele welcomes stricter federal migration policy to ease pressure and says the Flemish government is working to boost supply by speeding up permits so new homes can be built more quickly.

 ^{#FlandersNewsService | © BELGA PHOTO NICOLAS MAETERLINCK}