Verhuurder / Bailleur letter explained in English
Landlord. The owner of your home, or the agency that manages it.
Letters you may get
- Opzegging / congé — your landlord ends the rental contract
- Indexering / indexation — your rent goes up with the index
- Huurachterstand / arriérés de loyer — you are behind with rent
What to do
- Only a judge (vrederechter / juge de paix) can make you leave. A landlord may not change the locks or remove your things.
- Notice rules are strict and differ by region. Check with a tenants’ association before you agree to leave.
- Find the deadline. Look for “termijn”, “uiterlijk op”, “délai”, “au plus tard le”.
- Write the reference number from the letter on everything you send back, and keep copies.
- If you disagree with a decision, object in writing before the deadline (“bezwaarschrift”, “beroep”, “verzet”, “bezwaar”). See the template.
Words you may see
- vredegerecht
- Local court for rent, small debts and neighbour problems.
- justice de paix
- Local court for rent, small debts and neighbour problems.
Questions
What is the Verhuurder / Bailleur?
Landlord. The owner of your home, or the agency that manages it.
How long do I have to answer a letter from the Verhuurder / Bailleur?
It depends on the letter. Look for words like “termijn”, “uiterlijk op”, “délai”, “au plus tard le” — they mark the deadline. In Belgium, a letter sent by post is usually treated as received on the third working day after the date it was sent. Many deadlines, for example 6 months to object to a tax bill, start from that day. To object, the letter usually names the way to do it (“bezwaarschrift”, “beroep”, “verzet”, “bezwaar”).
Can I read a Verhuurder / Bailleur letter in English?
Yes. Take a photo of the letter with Briefly. It explains the letter in plain English, finds the deadline and the amount, and gives you ready-made replies in Dutch or French. Your letter never leaves your device.
Other offices in Belgium
FOD Financiën / SPF Finances · Vlaamse Belastingdienst / Brussel Fiscaliteit / SPW Fiscalité · Gemeente / Commune · OCMW / CPAS · RVA / ONEM · VDAB / Actiris / Le Forem · Ziekenfonds / Mutualité · Groeipakket / Allocations familiales