23 October 2025

Know the types of real estate in Belgium

The Belgian real estate market offers a wide variety of properties. Each type or legal situation of the property has advantages and disadvantages that should be understood before making a decision.

The different types of residential properties

  • Apartments : Studio, apartment (usually 1-3 bedrooms), duplex, triplex, penthouse.
  • Houses : Row houses or 2 façades, houses with 3 façades, detached houses, villas, detached houses.
  • Atypical properties : Farmhouses, square farms, mansions, lofts, historic properties.

The specificities of new and old

  • New properties : VAT of 21% applied to the purchase price (there are exceptions to 6%), reduced notary fees.
  • Old properties : Registration fees vary according to the region:
  • Flanders : 12% for most properties but 2% for a clean and unique home.
  • Wallonia : 12.5% for most properties but 3% for a clean and unique home.
  • Brussels : 12.5% for most properties but possible allowance on the 1st tranche of €200,000 if the price is less than €600,000 and the dwelling is own and unique.

Different legal situations of property

In Belgium, real estate can fall under several distinct legal situations, each governed by specific rules. 

  • Freehold ownership is the most common form, providing the owner with an absolute right to use, enjoy, and dispose of the property.
  • Co-ownership, on the other hand, mainly concerns buildings divided into lots, where each owner owns a private portion and a share of the common portions. 
  • There are also special forms such as bare ownership (where the owner owns the property without being able to enjoy it immediately) and usufruct (which allows you to benefit from the use and income of the without being the full owner of it). 
  • Finally, specific regimes such as long-term leases or joint ownership may also apply in certain contexts.

Each situation has distinct legal, tax and asset implications that should be understood before any acquisition.

👉 Your real estate agent will have to tell you the exact location of each property offered, and present you with the constraints and advantages.

🔎 Discover all the steps of the Belgian Property Buyer's Guide: