Most newcomers discover the problem in their first week: the landlord wants a Belgian bank account, recent Belgian payslips and a deposit in a blocked account, and you have none of these because you only just arrived. This guide explains why Belgian landlords ask for these documents, why a newcomer cannot produce them yet, and how to rent an apartment in Belgium without a bank account, a local payslip or a guarantor.
What Belgian landlords usually ask for
A standard Belgian landlord or agency asks for four things: your ID, proof that your income covers the rent, a rental deposit, and a way to pay rent every month, usually from a Belgian account.
Requirement | Why the landlord asks | Why a newcomer struggles |
|---|---|---|
Passport or ID card | Identifies the tenant on the lease | No problem |
Income of about 3 times the rent | Shows you can pay rent and charges | No Belgian payslips yet; foreign payslips are often not accepted |
Employment contract or payslips | Proves the income is stable | Contract may be foreign, or the job starts after arrival |
Rental deposit | Covers damage and unpaid rent | Normally held in a blocked account in the tenant's name at a Belgian bank |
Guarantor | Extra security if income is uncertain | Nobody in Belgium to sign |
Belgian bank account | Monthly transfer or direct debit | Banks ask for proof of a Belgian address first |
The income test is a market practice, not a legal obligation, but it is now backed by case law. In April 2026 the Council of State confirmed that a landlord may require an income of at least 3 times the monthly rent, in a case brought against the Brussels Region.
The deposit is regulated. In Brussels, for leases signed or renewed from 1 November 2024, the rental deposit may not exceed 2 months' rent, whatever form it takes. In Flanders, which includes Antwerp and Ghent, the maximum is 3 months' rent under the Flemish Housing Rental Decree in force since 1 January 2019. In both regions the money must not go into the landlord's own account.
Brussels also limits what a landlord may ask of you: identity, contact details, the number of people in the household and the amount of your financial resources. Nothing else.
The chicken-and-egg problem: lease, commune, eID, bank
Newcomers get stuck because every step in Belgium requires the step before it, and the first step is a lease.
To register with the commune, you need a lease or other proof of address.
To get the eID card and national number, you need a positive police check at that address.
To open a full Belgian bank account, the bank wants proof of your Belgian address, and many banks want the residence card too.
To sign a standard lease, the landlord wants a Belgian account for the deposit and rent, plus Belgian payslips.
Step 4 depends on step 3, and step 3 depends on step 1. The loop breaks only if you find housing that does not need the bank account or payslips. Our guide to registering with the commune in Belgium covers steps 1 and 2 in detail, including deadlines and the police visit.
Your options for the first months
There are five realistic ways to house yourself before you have a Belgian bank account, and they differ in cost, length and whether you can register at the address.
Option | What you need | Can you register at the commune? | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
Hotel or aparthotel | Payment card | No | The first few nights |
Short-stay platform booking | Payment card | Usually no | 1 to 4 weeks |
Staying with a colleague or relative | Their consent | Yes, with their signed declaration | If you have that contact |
Standard lease through an agency | Income proof, deposit, Belgian account | Yes | Stays of 3 years or more |
Furnished mid-term rental | ID, sometimes only that | Depends on the provider and owner | 1 to 11 months |
