Housing

Contact Information
To call commercial within Belgium, dial 02-717-XXXX. Outside Belgium, dial 032-2-717-XXXX.
Housing	368-9734

Families stationed in Brussels should be advised that there is no Army Family Housing in Brussels.

Government housing in Brussels is available only for single Enlisted Personnel in the grade E1-E6 and flag officers. The only other housing similar to Military housing is the embassy lease program that includes a limited number of houses located throughout the area. Some positions (generally for Personnel that fall under the Chief of Mission) make it possible for married Enlisted Personnel to have this housing when it is available. Embassy housing consists of apartments, duplexes, and single Family dwellings. Those who receive Embassy housing will have furnished quarters and will not receive their housing allowance.

The Housing Services Office (HSO), located at USAG Brussels, assists Military and Civilian Personnel attached to the Department of Defense and can assist with the process of finding and leasing a property in the Brussels area. Personnel in this category are required to check with the housing office within one to two work days of arrival and obtain the Housing Information Pamphlet which has detailed information on looking for and leasing. It is imperative to read the housing newcomers package prior to taking your housing briefing. Your housing in-brief takes approximately 2-2 ½ hours. Therefore an appointment is required!

Temporary Lodging and Hotel Accommodations

Military Personnel:

Brussels, Belgium does NOT have Government guest housing or transient facilities. In order to facilitate your move, the USAG Brussels Housing Office has established three Blanket Purchase Agreements (BPAs) with local hotels. Some have kitchen facilities and are conveniently located throughout the area.

The purpose of the BPA is to get a Government preferential rate and to avoid out of pocket expenses for lodging (the bill is sent directly to the Housing Office that takes care of the payment through the fund citation on your orders). If you wish to make use of these facilities through the BPA, you must provide a copy of your orders to the USAG Brussels Housing Office.

Without orders, no reservations can be made. The Housing Office is the sole point of contact for making reservations (e.g. you cannot make your own reservations and ask the hotel to send the bill to the Housing Office). Any reservations made by the Service Member in one of the above or any other lodging option will be at personal-reimbursable expense. In this case you will have to bring a paid invoice to the Housing Office and request reimbursement. Please note that reimbursements will only be paid up to the maximum applicable per diem.

Civilian Personnel:

Civilian Personnel receive their allowance for temporary quarters directly from the BENELUX Civilian Personnel Advisory Center (CPAC). Therefore, they have to arrange for their own temporary lodging accommodations and cannot make use of the BPA agreements. However, the USAG Brussels Housing Office can assist you with finding a hotel with a Government preferential rate.

TDY Personnel:

Military Personnel on official TDY orders have to make their own hotel reservations and request reimbursement upon completion of their trip. However, your USAG Brussels Housing Office can also assist you with finding a hotel with a Government preferential rate.

Renting Property

All Families in the Brussels area will have to rent a house or apartment due to the unavailability of government housing.

The house you choose for your tour in Belgium will have a major impact on your Family's happiness. Location to shopping, schools and the school bus route, work and public transportation is important. You should remember that bedrooms may look large, but you must place wardrobes in them due to the absence of closets in most Belgian homes. Older homes which may not be well insulated might leave you with high fuel bills.

While house hunting, do not sign documents; do not give a landlord money; do not accept the keys to a residence; do not make verbal agreements. Any one of these situations can place you in a legally binding situation concerning residence at terms which may not be to your advantage.

Be advised that Belgian landlords DO NOT accept the term "normal wear and tear" as in the United States. Under Belgian law, the house and garden must be returned to the owner in the original condition in which it was accepted.

It is recommended and often required by the terms of most leases to have a property survey, "etat des lieux," performed. This is an extremely detailed description of the condition of the property at the moment the tenant enters. It is then repeated at the end of the lease in order to determine the tenant's liability for damages. In Brussels the survey is done by a professional property expert agency. The cost, usually around €800, depending on the size of the property, is split between the tenant and the landlord.

The majority of rental properties in Belgium are unfurnished, which means there are no light fixtures, built-in closets or wardrobes, washer, dryer, curtains or draperies, carpets, or shower curtain rods. Kitchens in some dwellings might not have a stove or refrigerator but the majority of houses has "equipped" kitchens with built-in cabinets and some appliances.

Appliances may be either American or European, depending on available space and electrical capacity. Some washer hookups can only accommodate European models. Tenants must also furnish, at their own expense, transformers, draperies and other window coverings, rugs and carpets.

Be certain you understand what appliances, cabinets, and fixtures are to remain in the house for your use. Have an agreement as to who is responsible for repairs. If you are viewing a fully furnished house, ask specific questions about what will be left.

For more information about property rentals in Brussels, contact the USAG Brussels HSO Office within one to two work days of your arrival to Belgium at DSN 368-9734/9778, CIV +32-2-717-9734/9778.

Signing a lease

The lease which you sign with your landlord is an important legal document. When it is signed by you as the "Lessee" and your landlord as the "Lessor," it becomes a legal and binding contract.

Although there is usually a standard lease that is provided, you are allowed and should discuss any special arrangements with your landlord and the housing official such as the due date for your rent.

Be sure that your lease includes a "Military clause." Article 3 allows you to cancel the lease should you receive Military orders to leave your current duty station, retire from the Military or Civilian workforce and other stipulated reasons. This article is effective as long as the total length of a tenant's residence in a dwelling is thirty-six months or less. All leases in Belgium must be registered.

Registration is the responsibility of your landlord. Ask your landlord for a copy of the registered lease.

NOTE: Change of place of duty within the same geographical area does not fall under article 3 of your lease. Consequently, a lease may not be broken simply because you change office, even if you receive orders for such a change. Breaking a lease in such a case is per mutual agreement between landlord and tenant. A landlord may impose a penalty for non-respect of the termination clauses of the lease agreement.

Your working relationship with your landlord is of paramount importance. Many landlords speak English and are readily available when problems arise. However, keep in mind that some owners may be absent, inaccessible or unable to speak English.

A lease specifies who is responsible for the payment of expert fees, insurance, taxes, utilities, chimney and heating unit cleaning, maintenance, appliance repair, etc.

Read each article in the lease carefully. If you do not understand what each article means, ask for an explanation. When you are ready to sign the lease, you, the landlord and the housing official will go over the lease together at which time any questions you may have should be brought up and answered to your understanding.

The lease provided by the housing office is translated in English and depending on the preference of the landlord will also be in Dutch or French. Each party will be provided a copy of the lease. Be sure to keep this document in a safe place yet easily accessible.

Do not assume that your previous stateside rental experiences are applicable in Belgium. They are not! Belgian laws hold the "Lessee" responsible for maintenance that would ordinarily be the responsibility of the landlord in the United States. Check with your housing authority regarding these differences. In Belgium, Belgian rental laws apply! These may be significantly different from U.S. rental laws.

IMPORTANT NOTE for Personnel under the Chief of Mission (COM)

Personnel under COM are not authorized to rent, lease or buy property without the express permission of the Embassy Regional Security Office (RSO). Ensure RSO has inspected and approved your dwelling.

Government Issued Furniture/Appliances

Temporary Issue:

For those of you who do not live in furnished quarters and are in the process of waiting for your household goods to arrive, pots, pans and other cooking tools can be hand receipted for temporary use through the Army Community Service (ACS) “Lending Closet”.

Bedding and linens are NOT provided and should be shipped ahead of your household goods or purchased upon arrival in Belgium.

Army Community Service
DSN (314) 368-9783
Commercial: 02-717-9783

Duration of Tour Issue

Appliances such as stoves, refrigerators, dishwashers and washer/dryers and furniture such as wardrobes can be hand receipted for the duration of your tour.

Arrangements to hand-receipt furniture for the duration of the tour can be made through the Furniture Management Office at the Daumerie Caserne in Chievres at the following numbers:

Furniture Management Office

DSN 361-5452 or 361-5477
Commercial: +32-68-27-5452 or +32-68-27-5477

If you lease a house that already has Government wardrobes or appliances in it, you may take possession from the previous hand-receipted holder by completing the paperwork to change account holders.

There is no charge for delivery or repair of furniture or appliances. However if you fail to keep the appointment arranged, you will be charged for the second delivery or repair attempt.

Elevators

You may need to arrange for a lifting device called an "elevator" to hoist your furniture through a window or balcony if the main door is too small. This should be arranged through the Furniture Management Office at the same time you schedule your furniture delivery date.

Television and Internet

Television Sets

American television sets (NTSC) can only be used for AFN Television (American Forces Network) and video games. They are not able to receive European signals. American VCRs will only record from American television sets and will only play VHS videos. The same applies to DVD players/recorders unless your unit is region free.

In order to receive European channels or cable and record or play European programs and VCR tapes, you must purchase a European television (PAL system) and VCR. In turn, European television sets cannot receive the AFN signal nor can European VCRs record from an American television.

Some multisystem TVs and VCRs can receive both NTSC and PAL signals and are compatible with multisystem VCRs. Other can only play back NTSC or PAL signals. However, they must be set to European voltage while in Europe and then be switched to American voltage upon return to the United States.

American Forces Network Television

American Forces Network (AFN) Television, part of the American Forces Radio and Television Service is broadcast throughout the Benelux. However, AFN is transmitted on a horizontal frequency and viewers must live in the beam footprint to receive it. While some areas may receive the frequency with the antenna that comes with your American Television, others require a special indoor antenna that is sold at the PX. If an outdoor roof antenna is needed, be sure to check with your landlord before mounting anything to the structure of the house. Also remember that drilling holes will be considered as damage and upon moving out you could be charged for it.

American Forces Network Radio

AFN Radio is also broadcast throughout the Benelux. AFN radio provides its listeners with a full range of informative programs in English. E.S. news service and live sports are broadcast from the States via satellite. Local programming includes daily currency exchange rates, weather, school news, and community bulletin board featuring items for sale and special events.

AFN will broadcast ads and announcements free of charge as long as they are submitted in writing to AFN-SHAPE with your military ID number, duty assignment or sponsorship information as well as your signature.

Visit the Official AFN Benelux website at http://benelux.afneurope.net/ for more information regarding the television and radio frequencies in your area.

Cable Service:

Many residents subscribe to a cable television service to extend their range of channels. This includes programs from Great Britain [BBC] and The Netherlands [which broadcasts many American programs in their original English version.] AFN is not a part of this cable package.

Internet Service Providers:

U.S. personnel have many Internet options to choose from while in Belgium. Listed in the phone book or on the Internet, you will find several ISP (Internet Service Provider) companies in the area. An Internet account may also be set up through Belgacom, TELE2, TELENET and other providers with usage fees included on your phone bill. We suggest that you research all available options and choose the one that best fits your budget and needs. Check with your housing office for a list of available providers.