Finding a home

Lofts and studios, row houses or detached houses, co-housing projects or student residences: West Flanders has it all. To start your search for the perfect place to buy or rent, here are some useful links:

• Real estate websites: there are several real estate platforms you can check, such as Immovlan, Immoweb or Realo. They also contain useful information on, e.g. prices in your neighbourhood, energy audits or renovation.
• Real estate agencies, promotors and notaries: most real estate platforms also offer a guide of real estate agencies, promotors and notaries. Just check out, e.g., the Immovlan guide or the West Flemish list of Realo, and you will definitely find a match.
• The cities of Bruges, Kortrijk and Roeselare also provide information on buying, renting or building. 

Before you decide to rent or buy a property in West Flanders, here are some useful tips and things to consider.

Several banking companies also offer practical guides or checklists, e.g. the ING guide to renting a property or the KBC checklist.

Once you have found your dream home, you will of course need utilities such as electricity, water, internet and so on. To find out the most suitable utilities suppliers and providers, you can check:

• Water: AquaFlanders, De Watergroep
• Electricity & gas: compare different suppliers (tool only available in Dutch or French)
• Internet & mobile: compare online.

Home insurance is not legally required, but it may be required by landlords or mortgage lenders, for example. Of course, you might not want to take the risk of having your home or belongings uninsured.

There are several types of home insurance, ranging from basic coverage (such as fire) to comprehensive packages (including theft). Providers include insurance companies as well as banks. Be sure to compare prices and packages before making a decision.

Important note: If you rent a property, fire insurance is in fact legally required.