In Belgium, repair responsibilities are divided between roomies and the landlord based on rental agreements and legal guidelines. Below is a structured breakdown of what each party is responsible for.
🏠 Repairs Covered by the Landlord
The landlord is responsible for maintaining the structural integrity of the house and ensuring key systems are functional. This includes:
Category | Landlord’s Responsibility |
Aging & Natural Wear | Repairs due to normal wear and tear or force majeure (e.g., water damage, natural disasters) |
Household Appliances | Annual maintenance & repairs of washing machines, dryers, and dishwashers (unless damaged by tenant misuse) |
Heating System | Annual or biennial maintenance, repairs, and certifications |
Ventilation System | Regular maintenance & filter replacements |
Plumbing & Structural Repairs | Repairs to built-in fixtures, major pipe issues, water damage |
Electrical Systems | Repairs to fixed electrical installations |
Common Areas | General upkeep, ad hoc repairs, and reapplying silicone caulk in showers/bathtubs |
📌 Important: If technical systems require specific upkeep (e.g., smart home systems, heat pumps), the landlord must provide maintenance instructions.
🔧 Repairs & Maintenance Roomies Are Responsible For
Roomies must maintain cleanliness and basic household upkeep. This includes:
Category | Roomie Responsibility |
Cleaning & Maintenance | Regularly clean appliances (dishwasher, fridge, oven, washing machine, etc.) |
Plumbing | Unclog sinks, shower drains, and toilets using boiling water, baking soda, and vinegar |
Lighting | Replace bulbs & spotlights (if ceiling is below 2.5m) |
Ventilation | Open windows regularly & clean ventilation outlets |
Garden & Balcony | Maintain garden, prune bushes, clean terraces, cover the table, chairs, and barbecue during autumn and winter. |
Keys & Badges | Replace lost keys & access badges |
Internet Issues | Contact network provider (Proximus, Telenet, Amplr) for troubleshooting |
Furniture | Fix loose screws, tighten hinges in common areas & rooms |
Heating & Boilers | Reset the system, increase water pressure (min 1.5-2 bar), purge radiators when necessary |
Limescale Removal | Regularly descale taps, showerheads, and pipes |
📌 Important:
Misuse or rental damage → If you damage anything due to negligence, you must cover repairs.
Notifying Coloc Housing → If a repair covered by the landlord is needed, report it immediately to avoid additional liability.
💰 What’s Already Included in My Rent?
The following maintenance services are covered under Coloc Housing’s Yearly Repair Budget (check your rental agreement for details):
✅ Included in Rent (Covered by Landlord’s Budget)
Annual maintenance of washing machines, dryers, and dishwashers
Heating system maintenance & certifications
Ventilation system filter replacements
Structural repairs in common areas
Ad hoc annual recurring repairs
❌ Not Included in Rent (Roomie’s Responsibility)
Cleaning appliance filters (dishwasher, washing machine, dryer)
Replacing light bulbs and spotlights
Managing internet issues with the provider
Regularly cleaning refrigerators, defrosting freezers, and cleaning extractor hoods
Pruning bushes and cleaning balconies
Unclogging pipes and removing limescale buildup
Purging radiators and increasing boiler pressure
📜 Legal Repair Guides
For more details on Belgium’s rental repair laws, refer to:
🔹 Brussels Region (French) – [Repair & Maintenance List](Liste non-limitative des reparations et travaux d2019entretien.pdf)
🔹 Flemish Region (Dutch) – [Small Repairs List](Lijst van kleine herstellingen.pdf)