A Brussels court has found a housing company and three former managers guilty of illegal slumlord activities, handing down suspended prison sentences and a fine of €316,000.
The court handed down suspended prison sentences and fines for renting out substandard apartments in Schaerbeek to undocumented migrants, who were then violently evicted in April 2022.
The defendants were found to have made "abnormal profits by renting rooms incompatible with human dignity," exploiting the vulnerability of the tenants.
In addition, one manager was found guilty of "illegal home invasion" and harassment. This manager received a two-year suspended prison sentence, while the other two were given one-year suspended sentences. The company was fined €316,000.
The court also ordered the confiscation of the building, which has since been sold for €500,000. Additionally, rent collected during the period of the offences will be confiscated.
The building, located on Rue des Coteaux in Schaerbeek, was originally designed for two apartments. However, it was illegally subdivided into 39 rooms before the company's acquisition.
The court noted that the company and its managers chose to continue benefiting financially from these illegal modifications.
