Since the mid-20th century, boosting home ownership has been a major political ambition pushed by both the right and the left. In Europe, owning where you live (though with a sizeable loan) is the aspiration of practically everyone, with countless financial mechanisms to assist those who already own a home and those who are trying to.
All of which makes renters feel they're getting a bad deal. Not only does your rent go into the pocket of somebody who already has a property, but the growing demand for real estate pushes prices up, making it even harder to "get on the ladder" yourself. Add to that shrinking purchasing power, spiralling inflation and the fear that energy costs will wipe out whatever has been saved in the coming months, and renting looks less appealing than ever.
So it may be small cause for celebration to hear that Brussels has at last approved a limit on rent indexations as a concession to the plight of tenants. The move prevents landlords from charging tenants more if their property falls short of energy efficiency standards and aims to stop renters from facing the double blow of paying more for energy because their rented accommodation is poorly insulated.
Whether this will nudge landlords to make energy improvements in order to increase rent remains to be seen. But with indexation often amounting to an effective "13th month" of rent, this measure will hopefully promote better-built properties in the long term and help tenants in the short term.
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1. Survey shows misleading results on traders' desire to leave Brussels due to Good Move
A recent survey by the Neutral Union for the Self-Employed (SNI) – titled 'The Good Move Plan? A disaster for Brussels' self-employed and SMEs' – was not carried out in a sufficiently transparent way to draw such a conclusion. Read more.
2. Brussels finally approves limit on rent indexation
Following weeks of discussions, the Brussels Parliament has finally approved the majority's proposal to limit the indexation of rent for one year, based on the energy value of the property. Read more.
3. Two young Belgian women killed in road accident near Rome
Two young women from West Flanders died in a road accident on the A24 motorway near Rome, Italy on Saturday night. Read more.
4. Getting high in Brussels
For some, the easiest way to measure a city is by viewing it from an elevated position. Read more.
5. 'Stop always punishing hard-working savers when we need money,' says MR leader
The Belgian Federal Government should stop penalising the working middle class "every time we are short of money somewhere," said the leader of the Francophone liberal MR party, Georges-Louis Bouchez on VTM News on Sunday. Read more.
6. Mental health services not equipped to meet growing demand in Belgium
Mental health treatment needs have grown considerably in the past decade, both globally and in Belgium. Belgian health insurance fund, Solidaris, is emphasising that the current service here does not meet the increasing demand. Read more.
7. Hidden Belgium: Minimes Cantat
It all began in 1981 when a group of professional and amateur singers gathered in the baroque Eglise des Minimes in Brussels to sing Bach cantatas. The choir members have now performed each of Bach’s 200 or so works at their free monthly concerts. Read more.
