pests
What should you do if you find pests in your home ?
Document the situation. Take photographs or videos of the pests and note the dates they appeared. This evidence will be useful if you need to take official action.
Notify the owner immediately. Send an email or a registered letterLetter sent with an acknowledgment of receipt, allowing you to prove that the recipient has indeed received the letter. This procedure costs around €10.describing the issue precisely. Ask for a quick intervention to handle the infestation. You can find an example request further down on this page.
Keep a written record of all communications.
Your landlord is not responding ?
Contact a support service such as the CPAS (Public Social Welfare Centre), a community centre or a tenant support association in your municipality for assistance and advice. See the ASBL page on: Who to contact?
If the situation becomes unliveable: You have the right to take the matter to a magistrate. The magistrate may order repairs, reduce the rent, or suspend the lease in cases of serious unsanitary conditions. See the video ‘Resolving a dispute with your landlord.’
As a last resort, you can report the situation to the Regional Housing Inspection Department (DIRL). They can inspect the property and require the landlord to carry out repairs if necessary. Please note that these steps may result in eviction if they deem the property to be unsafe. Watch the video ‘How to file a complaint with the DIRL’.
Mail Type
Subject: Pest infestation in my home
Hello, I am contacting you as the tenant of the property located at [address of the property] to report the presence of pests (bedbugs/cockroaches/rats/pigeons, etc.). This situation is detrimental to my health and comfort. I request that you send a professional to treat the problem and repair any cracks or openings that may be causing the infestation.
Please take action within 15 days of receiving this message, otherwise I will be forced to contact the relevant authorities.
Kind regards,
[Your first name and surname]