The difference between short-term and long-term rentals
⏱️ Short-term rental
A short-term rental or short stay is a temporary accommodation option whereby someone rents a furnished apartment for a short period of time—usually from a few days to several months. It is often used by:
- Business travelers
- Expats temporarily residing in Belgium
- People between two homes
- Tourists who stay longer than a hotel stay
Short-stay apartments in Belgium are not covered by traditional rental legislation and have their own legal framework.
📅 Regular rent
In Belgium, most homes are rented for a period of 3 or 9 years.
3 years
- Duration: Maximum 3 years, renewable once but never exceeding a total of 3 years.
- Termination by tenant: 3 months' notice, at any time.
- Termination by landlord: Only possible if the tenant has given notice, or by mutual agreement. Normally, the landlord may NOT terminate the lease prematurely.
- Rent review: Only indexation permitted, no review of the base rent.
- Registration: Mandatory within 2 months.
- Conversion: If the contract is extended beyond 3 years, it will automatically be converted to a 9-year contract.
9 years
- Duration: 9 years, automatically renewable for 3-year periods.
- Termination by tenant: Always possible with 3 months' notice, no compensation due.
- Termination by landlord:
- At any time: for personal use (6-month notice period)
- After 3 years: for thorough renovation (6 months' notice period)
- After 6 years: without justification, but with compensation of 3 months' rent
- Rent review: Annual indexation permitted. Review of base rent possible after every 3-year period, only if rental value has increased or decreased by at least 20%.
- Registration: Mandatory within 2 months.
🕰️ Long-term rental
- Duration: Freely determinable, longer than 9 years. Runs until the agreed end date.
- Termination by tenant: In accordance with the contractually agreed terms, usually with a longer notice period.
- Termination by landlord: Also contractually determined. Landlord is more strongly bound to the term.
- Rent review: Annual indexation + review possible at contractually agreed times.
- Registration: Mandatory. For contracts longer than 9 years, the contract must also be registered in the mortgage registers in order to be enforceable against third parties (e.g., in the event of sale of the property).
Short-term or long-term rentals at Imperia Brussels
Would you like to rent a property for a very short period, for example one month? Or are you looking for an apartment for a longer-term rental, such as six months or a year?
We offer flexible rental solutions for individuals and businesses. You decide how long you want to stay in our furnished apartments.
Would you like to know more? Contact us or check current availability right away using the button below.