Rents increased faster in Belgium than in neighboring countries. Normal ?

Tensions post-Covid – Rents increased faster belgium than

In fact. Moreover, in Belgium, rents evolve in parallel with what is called the health index. However, no one has forgotten the soaring prices during the health crisis. Moreover, From January 2019 to May 2025, the health index in Belgium increased from 108.50 to 134.54, an increase of 24 %. Furthermore, “”Inflation has indeed experienced a considerable. Nevertheless, exceptional increase due to post-Cavid tensions in global supply chains and the outbreak of energy prices caused by war between Ukraine and Russia “, recall Ariane Reyns, expert At the Plan Bureau. And add. Nevertheless, to avoid the hasty conclusions that he “It is certainly not true that in other periods, before 2019, Belgian rents increased more quickly than those of our neighboring countries. However, If we consider statistics from its creation in 1996 until May 2025. rents increased faster belgium than the increase in rents in Belgium was around 180 %, in the Netherlands by 220 %, in France by 160 %and in Germany by 150 %”.

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You should know that in a country like Germany, rents are not subject to an automatic indexing system. The increases are nevertheless framed, but according to criteria which vary according to cities and regions. There is also the “MIETPREISBREMSE”, in tense areas (like Berlin for example) where new rents cannot exceed a certain ceiling.

Construction costs

On the side of the SIR (regulated real estate company) inclusive specializing in social real estate. these figures also arouse some reflections. “”Some owners do not index rent. especially when they have a tenant who pays regularly and who maintains the property “recalls CEO Lionel Van Rillaer.

Other point: “During a return rents increased faster belgium than on the private market. there is often an increase in rent greater than indexing, due to the imbalance between supply and demand on the rental market “.

Third point: “The Abex index. which gives the evolution of construction costs for residential projects in Belgium has increased from 809 to 1057 over the same period, an increase of 31 %. An investor putting a new rental project will therefore need. all other things being equal, of rents which have evolved faster than the health index, to obtain the same yield “.

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Four : “Legal requirements. including energy performance, require substantial investments in existing goods, which pushes rents up after renovations. In this case. the sum of the rent and the energy bill should be analyzed to compare rents increased faster belgium than the situation before and after renovation “.

Another question that is not addressed in the study of Eric Dor: is the level of rents more. lower in Belgium compared to those in force abroad, of course knowing that this obviously varies very strong depending on the locations? “”To my knowledge, there are no data on the effective rent levels for all of these countries “replies Ariane Reyns.

Decrease in purchasing power

For tenants, this strong increase in rent is obviously not neutral in terms of purchasing power. “The consequence is that the increase in rents paid by tenants in Belgium was very close to the increase. in average net income after tax tax. Between 2019 and 2024 in Belgium, the increase in rents was 20.1 %, very little than the increase of 21.6 %of the average annual net income after tax of a family of rents increased faster belgium than 2 adults with each the national average salary. and 2 children. This gap. however, was very superior among neighboring countries, which freed purchasing power to support the high increases in other goods or services.underlines Eric Dor.