Rent indexation and EPC in Belgium: What changes for shared housing in 2026

Hello to all Belgian tenants and hosts! In this month of May 2026, the real estate market continues to evolve, and the issue of rent remains a central concern. While inflation reached historical peaks in recent years, triggering emergency government measures, the situation has now stabilized. However, the rules of the game have permanently changed. At Roomlala, we know that legislation surrounding rentals and shared housing can sometimes feel like a real maze. This is especially true when it comes to intersecting two hot topics: annual rent indexation and the famous PEB score (Energy Performance of Buildings). Whether you are a student sharing a large apartment in Liège, a young professional in coliving in Brussels, or a host offering rooms in Antwerp, you are directly affected by these regulations. In this comprehensive article, we will decode for you the impact of new energy standards on your rent indexation in 2026. The total freeze is over, but be careful: the return to normal is strictly regulated!

Shared housing and rent indexation: the basic rules in 2026

In Belgium, it is essential to remember that shared housing is subject to standard residential lease rules. Whether you have signed a single lease with a solidarity clause or individual contracts for each room, the law protects tenants in the same way. Rent indexation is therefore no exception: it is strictly conditional on the energy quality of the home, as evidenced by the PEB certificate. This document, which has become the cornerstone of the rental market, assesses the energy consumption of your home on a scale from A (very energy-efficient) to G (energy-inefficient/thermal sieve).

To understand the situation in 2026, we need to take a step back. Remember: faced with the energy crisis, the government had implemented a temporary freeze on indexation for the most energy-intensive homes between late 2022 and late 2023. The goal was clear: to protect the purchasing power of tenants who were already suffering the full impact of soaring gas and electricity bills. Today, in 2026, this strict freeze is well and truly over. Indexation is once again authorized for all PEB scores in all three regions of the country. However, this absolutely does not mean a return to the classic mathematical formula for thermal sieves!

Indeed, the legislator has put in place a correction mechanism that remains fully applicable in 2026. Why? Simply to prevent hosts from making up for the indexation lost during the freeze period all at once. Without this mechanism, a tenant living in a G-rated home would have seen their rent skyrocket overnight as soon as the ban was lifted. The law therefore imposes a smoothing process, capping the increase to protect tenants while allowing hosts to partially track inflation.

Practical usage example: Imagine you are renting a house as shared housing in Namur with a PEB F rating. Your host cannot simply take the 2022 rent and apply the total inflation accumulated up to 2026. They must mandatory use the corrected formula provided by the region, which neutralizes inflation from the freeze year. At Roomlala, we always encourage hosts to use the official calculators to guarantee fair and legal indexation, thus avoiding any conflict with their tenants.

The impact of the PEB score on indexation according to your region

As Belgium is a federal state, housing competence is regionalized. This means that indexation rules linked to the PEB differ depending on whether your shared housing is located in Brussels, Wallonia, or Flanders. At Roomlala, we break down the specifics of each region for this year 2026.

In Brussels: mandatory registration and correction factor

In the Brussels-Capital Region, rules are particularly strict to protect urban tenants. For homes with a good PEB (A, B, C, or D), indexation is done normally at 100%. However, for E, F, and G ratings, a correction factor still applies in 2026. This factor mathematically reduces the authorized percentage of indexation, thus penalizing hosts who have not invested in the energy renovation of their property.

But that is not all! The Brussels region imposes two conditions sine qua non for a host to be able to request indexation. First, the shared housing lease must be registered with the tax office. Second, a valid PEB certificate must have been delivered in person (or by proven electronic means) to the tenants before the indexation request. If one of these two conditions is missing, the indexation is simply illegal and the tenant is entitled to refuse it.

Practical usage example: You are three students in an apartment in Ixelles (PEB F). Your host sends you an email to index the rent. Before paying, you check two things: did you receive the PEB certificate when signing the lease? Is the lease registered on MyMinfin? If the answer is yes, you can check the calculation via the Brussels region website, which will automatically apply the correction factor for PEB F. If the lease is not registered, you can kindly remind your host that their request is premature.

In Wallonia: a specific calculation method for energy-inefficient homes

On the Walloon side, the philosophy is similar but the calculation method differs. For homes with a PEB A, B, or C, indexation is total. For homes rated D, E, F, G, or those that simply do not have a PEB certificate, Wallonia has put in place a specific calculation mode. This calculation uses a base rent and a base index adapted to the 2022-2023 period, which de facto cuts out part of inflation to protect tenants of energy-inefficient homes.

It is crucial to note that in Wallonia, the absence of a PEB certificate is heavily penalized. Without this precious asset, the host is treated the same as the worst energy scores (G) and is subject to the most disadvantageous calculation method. This is a strong incentive for transparency and renovation of the Walloon housing stock, which is often aging.

Practical usage example: You are renting a room in a homestay in Mons. The host announces an indexation based on the classic formula. You ask for the PEB, which they admit they did not have done. In this case, you are entitled to contest their calculation. In Wallonia, without a PEB, they must use the modified formula which will considerably reduce the amount of the increase. This is a fundamental right of the tenant that we strongly defend at Roomlala.

In Flanders: the EPC certificate at the heart of the indexation system

In Flanders, the energy certificate is called the EPC (Energieprestatiecertificaat). The Flemish Region has also adopted a correction factor system to protect its tenants. Homes with an A+, A, B, or C label benefit from full indexation. However, for labels D, E, F, or in the absence of an EPC certificate, a strict correction factor is required during calculation in 2026.

Flanders distinguishes itself by its desire to rapidly eradicate energy-intensive homes. The Flemish government has also linked indexation to other renovation obligations (the famous renovatieverplichting). Thus, a Flemish host has every interest in insulating their shared housing, not only to be able to index their rent but also to comply with global health standards that are tightening year by year.

Practical usage example: You share a town house in Ghent (label E). The calculation of your new rent will mandatory have to include the Flemish correction factor. If the host attempts to apply the classic health index without the correction, the amount claimed will be incorrect. You can use the Flemish government's rent calculator to demonstrate the exact amount to them, to the nearest euro.

Hosts and tenants: how to apply or verify indexation?

Now that we have clarified the regional rules linked to the PEB, it is time to look at the legal procedure. Because yes, rent indexation obeys very precise formal rules. A procedural error can make the request invalid, much to the relief of tenants and the great frustration of hosts. At Roomlala, we rely on education so that both parties can navigate this serenely.

The strict legal procedure for hosts

The first golden rule, and not the least: indexation is never automatic! Even if the lease provides for an annual indexation clause (which is the case in 99% of contracts), the host must mandatory make a written request to their tenants. This request can only occur on the anniversary date of the lease's entry into force, or after that date. It is based on the evolution of the health index (and not the classic consumer price index).

A point of crucial vigilance concerns retroactivity. Belgian law is very clear: a host who forgets to request indexation on the anniversary date can catch up later, but with legal retroactivity limited to a maximum of 3 months preceding the month of the request. Any request going back more than three months is illegal and should not be paid by the tenant.

Practical usage example: The anniversary date of your shared housing lease is February 1st. Your host forgets to index and realizes it in May. On May 15th, they send you a letter requesting indexation. They are entitled to claim the supplement for the current month (May) and for the three preceding months (April, March, February). However, if they wake up in September, they will only be able to claim the supplement for September, August, July, and June. The months of February to May will be definitively lost for them.

Essential points of vigilance for tenants

As a tenant or roommate, you should not blindly accept the new amount calculated by your host. To err is human, and calculations integrating PEB correction factors are complex. Your first reflex should be to go to the official Belgian government rent calculator (Statbel). This free tool, updated in real time, integrates all regional specifics and 2026 PEB corrections. You just need to encode your lease date, base rent, region, and PEB score to obtain the exact amount to the cent.

Then, always check the administrative documents. As mentioned previously, demand proof of lease registration (especially in Brussels) and ensure you have received a copy of the complete PEB certificate, not just a verbal mention of its letter. Finally, keep in mind that dialogue should be prioritized. If you notice an error, reply in writing, cordially, by attaching the Statbel simulation.

Practical usage example: Your host asks you for an increase of 50 euros. You go to Statbel, enter your data (PEB F in Wallonia), and the calculator indicates a legal increase of only 22 euros. You send an email to your host: 'Dear host, following your indexation request, I have verified the calculation via the official Statbel tool which takes into account the legal correction for our PEB F. The legal amount is 22 euros. You will find the PDF of the calculation attached. I am setting up the standing order for this new amount starting this month.' Clear, concise, and irrefutable.

Homestays and shared housing: Roomlala's security commitment

Real estate regulation is alive, and it is sometimes difficult to sort through laws actually in force and political debates. For example, you may have heard of the Walloon PS proposal at the end of 2025 aimed at definitively banning indexation for PEB F and G. Careful: this was a political debate, and this measure is not in effect this month of May 2026! It is fundamental to rely on current laws to avoid unnecessary disputes.

At Roomlala, our mission is to secure homestay rentals and shared housing. We know that the relationship between a host and their tenant relies on trust. This is why we make it a point of honor to inform our community about everyone's legal obligations. By using our platform, hosts are encouraged to provide transparent listings, including the PEB score of their home, while tenants benefit from a clear and secure framework for their payments and procedures.

Whether you are offering a vacant room in your home to make ends meet, or you are looking for affordable shared housing that respects energy standards, Roomlala is by your side. We provide you with contract templates compliant with 2026 laws and guide you through the complexities of indexation. Because a lease well understood and respected is the guarantee of serene and sustainable cohabitation.

Practical usage example: A Brussels host registers on Roomlala to rent two rooms. During the creation of their listing, our system reminds them of the importance of mentioning their PEB and registering their lease to be able to index their rent legally when the time comes. For their part, the tenant booking via Roomlala knows they are joining a home where the rules of the game are announced from the start, protecting them against abusive increases. That is the peace of mind signed Roomlala!

• Always check your PEB: It is the keystone of indexation in 2026.
• Use the Statbel calculator: Never do the calculation by hand; correction factors are complex.
• Respect the deadlines: Hosts, request indexation in writing on the anniversary date. Tenants, check the 3-month retroactivity rule.
• Registered lease: An absolute obligation, particularly monitored in Brussels.

In summary, the year 2026 marks the return of indexation for all, but under high energy surveillance. Hosts, invest in the insulation of your properties to preserve their profitability. Tenants, know your rights to protect your budget. And do not forget: for a safe homestay or shared housing experience, trust the Roomlala community!