Rent of social housing

The amount of the rent of a social housing is fixed according to a calculation rule that is imposed on the lessor.

There are 2 calculation rules:

• Either Basic price per m² set by the social landlord x (Living area of the dwelling + Half of ancillary surfaces at least 1.80 m high for the exclusive use of the tenant)= Amount of rent
• Either Basic price per m² set by the social landlord x Corrected Surface of housing = Amount of rent

Rent is revised every 1^er January.

The variation of IRL: titleContent taken into account is that of 2^e quarter of the previous year.

The 1^er January of year N, to calculate the new rent to be applied, the social landlord needs the following 3 elements:

• Current monthly rent
• IRL of 2^e quarter of year N-1
• IRL of 2^e quarter of year N-2

The calculation consists of the following operation:

New rent = current rent amount x IRL of 2^e quarter of year N-1 / IRL of 2^e quarter of year N-2

You can benefit from a reduction in your rent, called reduction of solidarity rent (RLS), depending on the amount of your income (whether or not you receive theAPL: titleContent).

These conditions depend on the municipality of your accommodation.

To know the area of your municipality, you can use this simulator:

Know the area of your municipality: 1, 1 bis, 2 or 3

You can pay your rent by any means (check, transfer or cash up to a maximum amount).

The landlord does not have the right to impose direct debit as a means of paying rent.

The landlord does not have the right to charge or have the rents directly deducted from your salary, even with your agreement.

In case of full payment of the rent (including charges), you can ask your landlord to send you a free rent receipt.

For this, you can use this letter template:

Request a rent receipt from the owner, real estate agency or social landlord

The receipt shall contain the following information:

• Detail of the amounts you paid by distinguishing between rent and loads
• Solidarity rent reduction, if you benefit from it

In case of partial payment of the rent, the landlord must give you a receipt.

When your income exceeds one maximum amount (income more than 20% above the maximum limit to obtain social housing of the same type as yours), a solidarity rent supplement (SLS), also called overrent, may be claimed from you, under certain conditions.

In case of difficulties in paying the rent, several solutions are possible:

The lessor may claim during 3 years any unpaid charges or rents, including after the departure of the tenant.

This period also applies to the tenant who has paid too much and wishes to be reimbursed for the overpayment.

For example, a rent (or expense) debt from March 2025 may be required until March 2028.

Failure to pay your rent and expenses on the scheduled date may result in the termination of your lease, after the decision of the judge.

Attention, expulsion can be automatic if a resolution clause applies. In practice, a signed lease since 29 july 2023 must contain this clause. In the case of an older lease, this clause is most of the time present in the lease.

In the event of a termination clause, the lessor first sends you a command to pay. You have 6 weeks to pay.

After this period, if you have not paid, and your debt is less than or equal to €5,000, the lessor must initiate a conciliation or mediation procedure. If this procedure fails, he can then refer the matter to the judge. But if your debt is more than €5,000, the lessor may directly apply to the judge to have the lease terminated and to order the eviction.

The judge may decide to grant you a payment period if you have resumed payment of the rent and if he believes that you are able to pay your debt. If you pay on time, you can stay in the accommodation.