Student Housing in Belgium: University Residences, Kots and Student Leases
Fee figures: catalogue of 6 October 2026.
Most students in Belgium live in a kot: a furnished student room, usually with a shared kitchen and bathroom, sometimes a small studio. You find one through your university's housing office or on the private market. Rental law is a regional matter, so the rules on contracts and deposits differ between Flanders, Wallonia and Brussels.
University residences
Belgian universities run their own residences through their housing offices. Rooms are limited, so apply as soon as you are admitted. Prices for 2026/27 published by the universities:
| Where | Room | Monthly rent |
|---|---|---|
| Ghent University | Unrenovated room, full year | €391 |
| Ghent University | Renovated room, full year | €501–€521 |
| Ghent University | Studio, full year | €707 |
| ULB, Brussels | Small room, shared bathroom | €248 |
| ULB, Brussels | Room with own shower and toilet | €491 |
The ULB prices include €61 of flat-rate charges. In Ghent, a city tax on student housing of €5.50 to €11.80 a month is added from January 2027.
The private market
Private kots are advertised on university housing databases and rental sites. Before you sign, check:
- whether the rent includes charges such as energy, water and internet, or whether they come on top as a fixed amount or by meter;
- how long the contract runs and whether it covers the summer;
- whether you are allowed to register your address there (see below).
No official body publishes average private rents for students, so compare several offers in the city you choose.
The kotlabel in Flanders
Flanders introduced a common kotlabel in 2025. A labelled kot has a valid certificate of housing quality, a positive fire safety report and the correct planning permit. You can look up a building on kotlabel.vlaanderen.be. The label is compulsory only where the city has made it so, for example Bruges, Kortrijk and Mechelen; in Antwerp and Leuven it is voluntary. A kot missing from the database may simply not have been assessed, but one that was refused is shown with its problems.
Brussels has its own optional quality label for student housing, granted by the regional housing administration.
Student leases and deposits
All three regions have a special student lease, with shorter terms than an ordinary rental.
| Flanders | Wallonia | Brussels | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Maximum deposit | 2 months' rent | 2 months' rent, excluding charges | 2 months' rent (leases signed from 1 November 2024) |
| Duration | Ends on the agreed date, no tacit renewal | Ends on the agreed date without notice | Always 12 months |
Other rules worth knowing:
- Flanders: the landlord may ask for the deposit at the earliest three months before the lease starts, and never in cash. It goes into a blocked account in your name or to the landlord's account. The landlord must register the lease within two months.
- Wallonia: you must prove you are a student, with an enrolment certificate, at the latest six months after moving in.
- Brussels: the landlord must register the lease within two months. You can usually end a student lease at any time with two months' notice.
Insist on a written contract and an entry inventory of the room (état des lieux, plaatsbeschrijving): it protects your deposit.
Registering your address
Your address in Belgium is the basis of your residence registration. Students from outside the EU register at the commune within eight days of arrival, and a police officer later checks that you live there; EU students register if they stay more than three months. See student visa for Belgium.
This is why the landlord's position matters. In Wallonia you may register at a kot only with the landlord's express consent. In Flanders the student lease is meant for a room that is not your main residence. If the kot will be your only home in Belgium, agree in writing before you sign that you may register there.
Scams
Do not pay a deposit or rent for a room you have not seen, by video or through someone you trust, and never pay cash to a stranger. See finding student housing in Europe without being scammed.
Tips
- Read what happens to the contract if your visa is refused or delayed.
- If you arrive without a room, book a short stay for the first weeks and search on site.
Where to look next
- How much it costs to study in Belgium
- How to get into a university in Belgium
- Student visa for Belgium
- Diploma equivalence in Belgium
Official sources
- Ghent University: rental fees
- Flanders: student leases (in Dutch) and the kotlabel
- Wallonia: student lease FAQ (in French)
- Brussels: student housing label (in French)
Always check current information on the official website of the university before you apply.