Search Q&A
Property in Belgium/residence
Hi all,
Got my eye on some property near the seaside so potentially will have two addresses.
Naturally I will have to inform the authorities that I have two addresses.
I have heard that I have to prove to the authorities that I have two addresses - must I prove that one or both is a residence? I have been told that you must prove this and that there is a certain period of time where you can live at address A and address B in Belgium?
Many thanks!
You have 1 address for your residence where you are registered.
The 2nd one is a secondary address, and you will pay a flat secondary residence tax.
> I have been told
You evidently know someone who talks out of their rear end.
If you do not plan to change your residence to the new property you don't have to do anything. If you do you will loose the residence in your current property
The Notaires involved in the sale/purchase will also inform the authorities of the changes in ownership. This is done to provide the name of the person in charge of paying the yearly property tax.
Usually the person that owns the property on January 1st pays for the full year. At any date during the year when the property is sold the Notaire will calculate the amount to be reimbursed to the old owner based on a pro-rata.
"I was told of this by the commune" - I think that you may have either misunderstood, or the person telling you didn't know what they were talking about. Plenty of people own second homes. They live in one, and the other is a holiday home or whatever. This has nothing to do with your official residence (for tax purposes) at one address in Belgium. If you buy a second home, it doesn't affect your existing residence at your existing home. And what's more, unless you're proposing to change your residence to the second home, you don't need an ID card or whatever from the new commune, so no police will need to visit you.
