The immediate freezing of the rents of rental properties that are insufficiently energy-efficient is only partly satisfying to the Flemish Tenants Platform. “We notice an unprecedented concern among tenants, both about the rent indexation letter and about the rising energy costs,” said Joy Verstichele, spokesperson for the Vlaams Huurdersplatform, on Sunday.
The Flemish Parliament gave the green light on Saturday for the immediate freezing of the rents of rental properties that are insufficiently energy-efficient. An emergency decree from majority parties N-VA, CD&V and Open Vld has been approved.
The measure came into effect on 1 October to prevent landlords from quickly indexing their rent. In concrete terms, the prices of rental properties with a non-energy-efficient EPC label E and F may not be indexed for a year. This also applies to houses without an EPC label, explains Flemish Minister for Housing Matthias Diependaele (N-VA) on Sunday at VTM NIEUWS. For houses with a label D, landlords are still allowed to charge half of the health index. There is no restriction for labels A, B and C.
“Hopefully for a freeze for all tenants”
“It is a good thing that an intervention on the indexation of rents has been considered, but the measure was allowed to go further for us. After all, tenants cannot structurally intervene in their homes. The measure only partly addresses those concerns,” explains Versichele. “We had hoped for a rent freeze for all tenants, including those living in homes with EPC labels A, B or C. The link to the energy performance certificate also makes the elaboration of the measure more complex.”
No indexation of the prices of all rental properties would not only be easier, but also more unambiguous to communicate, it sounds. “Tenants in better insulated homes can also have payment problems,” Versticele points out.
Finally, the Flemish Tenants Platform believes that tenants have been receiving rent indexation letters since January and February. “A solution must also be found for tenants for whom indexation has already been implemented,” said Verstichele.
Flemish government also approves energy support package for housing market: this is stated in it (+)
Intervention on rental index already in force this weekend
INTEGRAL. Read Jan Jambon’s September statement here: “What I had to undergo on Monday was painful”
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