Search Q&A
Appartment Rental
Hi all,
I have been looking for an appartment to rent and i found the "perfect" one - except that the owner is worried because i am too old!! I will reire in about 5 years and he/she is worried that I will not be able to pay rent after that - my question is this legal???
The way I see it is so much can happen in 5 years - I am in a secure job with a regular income - ok I am not "young" but a person of 25- 35 can also not be secure!!!
I have savings plusa pension plan plus Belgian pension!
Thanks for your input
Tell him 5 years of a good tenant is good income, and you know you'll be able to afford it after that as well, as you should already have an idea of what your pension income will be. If that doesn't work, curse him and condemn him to a lying cheating foreigner who will screw him for all he's worth.
Is it legal?
No! But, if he lets the place to someone else, how do you prove that it is because he is worried that you will not be able to pay rent because of your age?
He is perfectly entitled to satisfy himself that any potential tenant can pay and many landlords ask for proof of income. Also, he is under no obligation to let his place to you or anyone else just because he has advertised it.
However frustrating it may be, you really have no chance of succeeding if you take legal action if he lets to someone younger.
Not much you can do. Just try and reason with him, in a very kind way. You want to keep him on your side after all. The truth is that Belgian landlords expect their tenants to stay a very long time. People in Belgium do not move around much like you do in other countries. Also, it is not easy to expel a tenant who is not paying. I understand your side totally, but also the landlord's side. as I have been a tenant and a landlady. He is protecting his investment. I can assure you that even the nicest prospective tenant can turn out to be a nightmare! (speaking from experience).
