Rent indexation in Brussels: rules and calculation 2026
In Brussels, rent indexation is governed by the Brussels Housing Code and the ordinance of 11 October 2022. An EPC coefficient still applies to leases signed before 14 October 2022, based on the property's energy class.
In short: in Brussels, indexation is annual, on the anniversary of the lease's effective start date. For leases signed before 14 October 2022, an EPC coefficient applies: 100 % for A-C, 75 % for D-E, 0 % for F-G. For more recent leases: federal standard calculation without correction.
The rules of rent indexation in Brussels
The Brussels Housing Code
The indexation of Brussels residential leases is governed by the Brussels Housing Code, supplemented in 2022 by the ordinance of 11 October 2022 aimed at capping indexation for energy-inefficient properties. The key article is 224/2 § 1bis/2, which defines the EPC corrective coefficient mechanism and its application over time.
This ordinance was adopted in the context of the 2022 inflation crisis. It remains in force in 2026, unlike the Walloon window mechanism, which ended late 2023 (capped EPC D-G leases nonetheless remain subject to a permanent adapted method). Brussels remains the Belgian region where the EPC most broadly conditions indexation, although in a degressive way and limited to pre-2022 leases.
Conditions to be met
- Registered lease with the Brussels registration office
- Written request to the tenant (registered mail recommended for proof)
- Anniversary date of the effective start respected
- Up-to-date EPC for pre-2022 leases (otherwise: coefficient 0)
- One indexation per year only, with no accumulation with other revisions
Periodicity (annual only)
As everywhere in Belgium, indexation is calculated on the anniversary of the lease's effective start. If the tenant moved in on 1 March, you index every 1 March. Retroactivity is limited to 3 months — beyond that, you lose the right to the unclaimed amounts.
The EPC factor in Brussels
For a lease signed before 14 October 2022, the EPC coefficient applies according to the following grid:
Leases signed from 14/10/2022: 100% all classes. A valid EPC certificate provided to the tenant is required to index. Different percentages applied during the 2022-23 window.
Degressive mechanism over 12 months
The Brussels ordinance provides for a degressive mechanism: the applied coefficient also depends on the lease's anniversary month. For example, a lease with an anniversary in March 2026 will not have the same coefficient as a lease with an anniversary in September 2026. This gradation smooths the impact on landlords and avoids a sudden « cliff » effect.
Our calculator automatically applies the correct value — no need to consult the monthly table. You enter the anniversary date and the EPC, we apply the right coefficient.
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)
How to calculate your indexation in Brussels
For a Brussels lease signed before 14 October 2022, the complete formula is:
Indexed rent = Base rent × (New index ÷ Base index) × EPC coefficient
For a lease signed from 14 October 2022 onwards, the EPC coefficient drops to 1 (100 %) and the formula becomes the federal standard calculation.
Worked example
Brussels lease signed on 1 April 2021, rent €850, EPC E, indexation on 1 April 2026:
Health index March 2021: 110.38 — Health index March 2026 (estimated): 132.12
EPC coefficient E: 0.75 (75 %)
The application of the coefficient is on the increase, not on the total result.
Theoretical increase = 850 × (132.12/110.38 − 1) = €167.46
Increase weighted at 75 % = €125.60
Final indexed rent = 850 + 125.60 = €975.60
Our calculator automatically applies this correct 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 was signed from 14 October 2022 onwards, the EPC coefficient does not apply and the calculation is strictly federal. This is what most Brussels landlords will encounter for their recent leases.
Unknown or expired EPC
For leases prior to October 2022, the absence of a valid EPC equals a coefficient of 0 — in other words, no indexation possible. Solution: have a new EPC certificate issued.
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 (free procedure).
Indexation of Brussels rents in 2026
The Statbel health index hovers around 132 (base 2013) in 2026. For pre-2022 Brussels leases with EPC E or F, indexation remains capped at 75 % of the theoretical increase. For more recent leases or well-rated properties: 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, on the anniversary of the lease's effective start date. The lease must be registered and the indexation must be notified to the tenant in writing.
Does the EPC apply in Brussels? + −
Yes — but only for leases signed before 14 October 2022. For those leases, art. 224/2 § 1bis/2 of the Brussels Housing Code applies a corrective coefficient based on the energy class: 100 % for A-C, 75 % for D-E, 0 % for F-G.
My Brussels lease dates from April 2022 with EPC G: what now? + −
The G coefficient is 0 % in Brussels: no indexation possible as long as the property remains class G. An energy renovation upgrading the property to F or better unlocks the situation for future indexations.
What about leases signed after October 2022? + −
For leases signed from 14 October 2022 onwards, the EPC coefficient does not apply — return to the federal standard calculation, regardless of the energy class.
My EPC is unknown or expired: am I entitled to index? + −
For a lease post-October 2022: no impact (federal calculation). For an earlier lease: the absence of a valid EPC equals 0 % indexation. Having a new EPC certificate issued (10-year validity) 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 free of charge upon simple petition. 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 mechanism is degressive over 12 months: the applied coefficient also depends on the lease's anniversary month. Our calculator automatically applies the correct value.
Going further
- Brussels calculator
- Methodology of our calculation
- Health index table
- Comparison with Wallonia
- Comparison with Flanders
Page updated on 4/5/2026. Sources: Brussels ordinance of 11 October 2022, Brussels Housing Code (art. 224/2 § 1bis/2), Law of 6 August 1993, Royal Decree of 24 December 1993, Statbel. This content is informative and does not constitute legal advice.