Rent indexation in Brussels: rules and calculation 2026
In Brussels, rent indexation is governed by the Brussels Housing Code (art. 224/2), amended by the ordinances of 13 October 2022 and 13 October 2023. An EPC correction factor applies to leases that entered into force before 14 October 2022 where the property is rated E, F or G.
In short: in Brussels, indexation is annual, on the anniversary of the lease's entry into force. For leases that entered into force before 14 October 2022, a correction factor reduces the indexed rent of properties rated EPC E (roughly × 0.95–0.99) and EPC F-G (roughly × 0.89–0.98), depending on the anniversary month. EPC A to D and more recent leases: 100 % indexation. In all cases, a registered lease and an EPC certificate provided to the tenant are required.
The rules of rent indexation in Brussels
The Brussels Housing Code
The indexation of Brussels residential leases is governed by article 1728bis of the former Civil Code and by article 224/2 of the Brussels Housing Code. The ordinance of 13 October 2022 (published and in force on 14 October 2022) first temporarily limited the indexation of energy-inefficient properties; the ordinance of 13 October 2023 (in force since 14 October 2023) then introduced, in § 1/2 of that article, the correction factor applied today.
During the temporary period, from 14 October 2022 to 13 October 2023, properties rated EPC A to D could be indexed at 100 %, properties rated EPC E at a maximum of 50 % of the indexation, and properties rated EPC F, G or without a certificate could not be indexed. Since 14 October 2023, indexation is again possible for all classes, but a correction factor — with no end date — applies to EPC E, F and G for leases that entered into force before 14 October 2022.
Conditions to be met
- Written, registered lease — without registration, no indexation is due
- EPC certificate provided to the tenant — otherwise no indexation is due, whatever the class
- Written request to the tenant (registered mail recommended for proof): indexation is never automatic
- Anniversary date of the entry into force respected
- One indexation per year only
Periodicity (annual only)
As everywhere in Belgium, indexation is calculated on the anniversary of the lease's entry into force. If the lease entered into force on 1 March, you index at the earliest every 1 March. For a late request, retroactivity is limited to the 3 months preceding the month of the request — beyond that, you lose the right to the unclaimed amounts.
The EPC factor in Brussels
For a lease that entered into force before 14 October 2022, the correction factor applies according to the following grid:
Leases taking effect from 14/10/2022: 100% all classes. A registered lease and a valid EPB certificate provided to the tenant are required to index. Different percentages applied during the 2022-23 window.
A factor that depends on the anniversary month
The correction factor does not depend on the EPC class alone: it also varies with the anniversary month of the lease's entry into force. A lease with an anniversary in March does not have the same factor as a lease with an anniversary in September, and the month of October is split in two (1 to 13 and 14 to 31). The ranges: roughly 0.945 to 0.990 for EPC E, 0.891 to 0.980 for EPC F or G.
Our calculator automatically applies the correct value — no need to consult the monthly table. You enter the lease dates and the EPC, we apply the right factor. The official table is published on be.brussels.
How to find your EPC in Brussels?
The EPC certificate is mandatory for any rental in Brussels. To find it:
- Check your lease (often attached as a copy)
- Contact the certified assessor who issued it (10-year validity)
- Check the public database of Brussels Environment
- Have a new certificate issued (count €250-400 depending on the surface)
Warning: without a valid EPC certificate provided to the tenant, no indexation is possible in Brussels — whatever the energy class.
How to calculate your indexation in Brussels
For a Brussels lease that entered into force before 14 October 2022, with an EPC E, F or G, the complete formula is:
Indexed rent = Base rent × (New index ÷ Starting index) × Correction factor
The factor multiplies the full result of the ordinary formula, not just the increase. In Brussels, the starting index is the health index of the month before the lease was signed; the new index is that of the month before the anniversary of its entry into force. For EPC A to D, or for a lease that entered into force from 14 October 2022 onwards, there is no factor: the ordinary formula applies at 100 %.
Worked example
Brussels lease signed on 10 March 2021, entered into force on 1 April 2021, rent €850, EPC E, indexation on 1 April 2026:
Starting index (February 2021, month before signature): 110.39 — New index (March 2026): 137.78
Ordinary formula: 850 × (137.78 ÷ 110.39) = €1,060.90
EPC E correction factor for an April anniversary: 0.965766823
Indexed rent = 1,060.90 × 0.965766823 = €1,024.58
With an EPC A, B, C or D, the indexed rent would be €1,060.90 (no factor).
Our calculator automatically applies this mechanism. You avoid the methodological pitfalls that can skew the result by tens of euros per month.
Special cases
Lease post-14 October 2022
If your lease entered into force from 14 October 2022 onwards, no correction factor applies: the ordinary formula applies at 100 %, whatever the EPC class. This is what most Brussels landlords will encounter for their recent leases. It is the date of entry into force that counts, not the date of signature.
Unknown or expired EPC
In Brussels, the EPC certificate is a condition of indexation itself: without a valid certificate provided to the tenant, no indexation is due, whatever the date of the lease. Solution: have a new EPC certificate issued and provide it to the tenant.
Non-certifiable property (EPC impossible)
Very rare in residential rental, but exists for some service housing or atypical properties. In this case, contact Brussels Environment to clarify your situation before indexing.
What to do if the tenant refuses the indexation?
- Verify your calculation with the calculator — particularly check the EPC handling and anniversary month.
- Re-notify by registered mail with the calculation detail (our PDF is designed for this).
- Refer to the justice of the peace of the property's commune (low-cost procedure, no lawyer required).
Indexation of Brussels rents in 2026
The Statbel health index (base 2013) rose from 137.37 in January 2026 to 140.30 in August 2026. For Brussels leases that entered into force before 14 October 2022 with an EPC E, F or G, the indexed rent remains multiplied by the correction factor. For more recent leases or properties rated A to D: full indexation.
To track the evolution month by month, see our health index table updated daily from Statbel.
Frequently asked questions — Brussels
When can a rent be indexed in Brussels? + −
Once a year, at the earliest on the anniversary of the lease's entry into force. The lease must be registered, an EPC certificate must have been provided to the tenant, and the indexation must be requested in writing: it is never automatic.
Does the EPC apply in Brussels? + −
Yes, in two ways. First, without an EPC certificate provided to the tenant, no indexation is due. Second, for leases that entered into force before 14 October 2022 with an EPC E, F or G, art. 224/2 § 1/2 of the Brussels Housing Code multiplies the indexed rent by a correction factor: roughly 0.945 to 0.990 for EPC E and 0.891 to 0.980 for EPC F or G, depending on the anniversary month. EPC A, B, C and D: 100 % indexation.
My Brussels lease dates from April 2022 with EPC G: what now? + −
A lease that entered into force in April 2022 predates 14 October 2022: the F-G correction factor (roughly 0.891 to 0.980 depending on the anniversary month) applies to the indexed rent. Indexation is therefore possible, but reduced. It was during the temporary period from 14 October 2022 to 13 October 2023 that no indexation was allowed for EPC F and G.
What about leases dating from after October 2022? + −
For leases that entered into force from 14 October 2022 onwards, no correction factor applies: the ordinary formula applies at 100 %, regardless of the energy class. A registered lease and an EPC certificate provided to the tenant remain necessary.
My EPC is unknown or expired: am I entitled to index? + −
No. In Brussels, without a valid EPC certificate provided to the tenant, no indexation is due — whatever the date of the lease. Having a new EPC certificate issued (10-year validity) and providing it to the tenant unlocks the situation.
How can I find my Brussels EPC? + −
Several sources: the lease itself (often annexed), the certified assessor who issued it, or the database of Brussels Environment.
What if the tenant disputes the indexation? + −
The justice of the peace decides upon simple petition, at modest cost and without a mandatory lawyer. Our notification PDF provides all the elements needed in case of dispute (formula, indexes, sources).
Does the EPC coefficient vary throughout the year? + −
Yes. The Brussels correction factor depends on the anniversary month of the lease's entry into force (October is split in two: 1 to 13 and 14 to 31). Our calculator automatically applies the correct value; the official table is published on be.brussels.
Going further
- Brussels calculator
- Methodology of our calculation
- Health index table
- Comparison with Wallonia
- Comparison with Flanders
Page updated on 21/9/2026. Sources: Brussels ordinances of 13 October 2022 and 13 October 2023, Brussels Housing Code (art. 224/2 § 1/2), be.brussels — indexation with correction factor, art. 1728bis of the former Civil Code, Law of 6 August 1993, Royal Decree of 24 December 1993, Statbel. This content is informative and does not constitute legal advice.