Registering a Rental Agreement in Flanders: Step-by-Step Guide (MyRent)

Registering a rental contract in Belgium is a legal requirement and completely free. Yet, things often go wrong: the landlord forgets the two-month deadline, or the property inspection report is missing. In this guide, you will read exactly how registration via MyRent works, who is responsible, and what role the property inspection report plays.

Why register a rental contract?

Registration gives the rental contract a fixed date against third parties. Specifically, this means:

• The tenant is protected in case of sale of the property. A registered contract must be respected by the new owner.
• The landlord can invoke the notice periods and compensation from the contract.
• In case of a dispute, the registered contract, together with the property inspection report, forms the strongest evidence file.

Who must register and within what period?

For residential leases, the **landlord** is responsible for registration. The deadline is **two months** after the signing of the contract. The registration itself is **free** for rental agreements exclusively intended for housing.

If the landlord fails to do so, the tenant can terminate the rental agreement without notice period and without termination compensation. For the tenant, registration is therefore also a means of pressure; the tenant may have the contract registered themselves if the landlord defaults.

Step by step: registering via MyRent

1. **Sign the rental contract** by all parties, stating the date of signing. 2. **Draw up the property inspection report** upon entry. This serves as an annex to the contract and is registered together. 3. **Log in to MyRent** via the FPS Finance portal (MyMinfin), using itsme or eID. 4. **Add the contract** as a PDF scan, together with the property inspection report as an annex. 5. **Fill in the details**: address of the property, parties, start date, duration, rent, and purpose (housing). 6. **Send and save the proof.** You will receive a registration certificate. Keep this with your file.

If you cannot or do not wish to register digitally, the contract can also be submitted by post or at the counter of the competent Legal Certainty office. Digital registration via MyRent is faster and provides immediate proof.

The property inspection report belongs with the registration

An incoming property inspection report is mandatory for residential leases in Flanders and is registered together with the rental contract. If this annex is missing, your file will be incomplete when it really matters: upon exit, when the rental deposit needs to be released.

A correct property inspection report:

• describes each room in detail, with meter readings, keys, and technical installations;
• is dated and contradictorily signed by both parties;
• contains dated photographic material that can serve as evidence;
• is compared upon exit with the same structure, so that normal wear and tear and actual damage can be distinguished from each other.

Without a contradictory property inspection report, the property is deemed to have been left in the same condition as at the start. In practice, this means: damage is almost impossible to recover.

Frequently asked questions

**Does registering a rental contract cost money?** No. For rental agreements exclusively intended for housing, registration is free, including the property inspection report as an annex.

**How long do I have to register?** Two months after signing the contract. For rental contracts other than housing, a four-month period applies, and fees may be due.

**What if the landlord does not register?** Then the tenant can terminate the contract without notice period or compensation. The tenant may also have the contract registered themselves.

**Does the property inspection report need to be registered as well?** Yes, the property inspection report serves as an annex to the rental contract and is registered together.

**Who draws up the property inspection report?** Tenant and landlord can do this together, but in practice, they often have it drawn up by an independent expert. The costs are then usually shared.

Practical in Antwerp

Do you rent out in Antwerp, Berchem, Deurne, Borgerhout, Wilrijk, Mortsel, or the surrounding area? Have the incoming property inspection report drawn up before the key handover, so that you can submit the complete file within the two-month registration period. PB Expert draws up independent, legally sound property inspection reports at a competitive price and usually delivers the report within 48 hours.