The discord between the Region and the federal government is in fact still not resolved, and it will be necessary, from January, to register new lease contracts twice in Brussels.
While waiting for the Constitutional Court to decide, the federation of French-speaking real estate agents (Federia) regretted on Monday a situation “worthy of Kafka” with regard to the registration of rental leases in the Brussels Region.
It is “the paroxysm of administrative absurdity”, denounce the real estate agents, who call on the authorities “to act”. “For the real estate sector alone, this involves at least 11,000 leases which will soon have to be subject to double registration”affirms the federation.
► Reread | The number of new rental contracts is decreasing in Brussels, contrary to demand
According to a reform validated in Brussels last April, Brussels landlords will soon have to register their residential lease in a register managed by the Region. Problem: the same obligation exists at the federal level. For the Brussels Secretary of State for Housing Nawal Ben Hamou (PS), the Region is well competent on this subject, and the ordinance passed excludes from the federal registration obligation leases covered by the Brussels Housing Code.
► Read also | Real estate: the right of preference of tenants in Brussels almost never used
The federal government does not see it that way, and the Council of Ministers has filed an action for annulment with the Constitutional Court, targeting precisely the articles of the Brussels ordinance which allow themselves, in some way, to “cancel” the Federal obligation to register the lease. The Constitutional Court received the appeal in July and has not yet set a hearing date or ruling. Consequence: there is no “no choice but to double-register” from January, because, on both sides, not respecting the obligation is punishable by sanctions, regrets Federia. “It is all the more regrettable since the two levels of power are really only concerned with one thing: collecting data on leases”comments Charlotte De Thaye, general director. This speaks of a “total lack of respect” for citizens.
Belgian
Belgium
