Pests
My rights regarding pests
In principle, if the infestation is not caused by the tenant’s behaviour (poor hygiene, unmanaged waste, etc.), the landlord is responsible for:
Insects (cockroaches, bedbugs, beetles, ants, etc.)
Rodents (rats, mice, dormice, martens, etc.)
Unwanted birds (pigeons, birds nesting indoors, etc.)
Fungi and mould (particularly linked to damp problems)
The presence of pests:
- Endangers residents’ health (allergies, illnesses, stress, etc.)
- Degrades the living environment and peace and quiet
- Constitutes a violation of housing health rules, which may be legally recognised as a serious violation by the owner
Who is responsible?
In the Brussels-Capital Region, all housing must be free of pests, according to the rules set out in the Brussels Housing Code. This means that the owner is legally obliged to garanty that the property is free of:
Call in a specialist company to deal with the infestation.
Implement sustainable measures (repairs, sealing off access points, etc.)
Maintain the property in a clean and tidy condition throughout the tenancy.