Relocation to Belgium
Whether in Antwerp or Brussels – We Make Relocation Friendly and Straightforward
While the housing market is relatively stable across Belgium, there are a lot of other factors to living here that can make relocating a challenge for even the most experienced expatriate. Brussels, which is home to the headquarters of both the European Union and NATO, is more international in feel, while the population of Antwerp, the country’s second-largest city, is home to mostly local residents. The primary languages of the two cities are different: Dutch is spoken in Antwerp, and French is the primary language in Brussels. Both French and Dutch are officially recognized, and German is standard for many towns along the Belgium-Germany border. Documents, regulations, and day-to-day business may be conducted in the ‘official’ language of each region, with little flexibility for alternatives.
Each city has its own rental laws, and both locations (as is common throughout Belgium) have substantial red tape to navigate through. For example, because Antwerp is home to many local residents, the average length of a lease is 9 years, causing landlords to shy away from expatriates with shorter-term requirements. Most landlords across Belgium also require at least 3 months’ notice for breaking a lease. Dwellworks Destination Consultants have relationships with landlords and rental property brokers across Belgium, saving expatriates the time and effort of researching expatriate-friendly properties and learning a new language overnight. Destination Consultants are the ultimate resource for language barriers, rental questions, and settling-in help across Belgium.
Area Orientation: Every employee wants to know more about the place they are moving to, whether it’s previewing neighborhood rental options, calculating commute times, or understanding the available community activities and hot spots. Our Destination Consultants always start the service experience with “How can I help?” and then put their local expertise to work with information, exploration, and guidance that aligns with your employee’s priorities.
Rental Home Finding Assistance: Our Consultants are experts in matching property solutions to employee budgets, requirements, and expectations, and are also a resource for understanding local leasing practices and landlord processes. After sourcing suitable housing, scheduling viewing appointments, and discussing the advantages and disadvantages of possible options, our Consultants help employees submit rental applications to give them the best chance of being selected as the preferred tenant.
Settling-in Services: Our Destination Consultants guide the employee through the full settling-in process, including support with key services like social insurance registration, banking services introductions, driver’s license application, and health care guidance. If the family has children, we also assist with school explanations, registration, and tours.
Departure services: Clients authorize this service when they are looking for end-of-assignment support for their employees. Our Destination Consultants advise on rental property termination, final property inspections, and the steps employees should follow to ensure a successful refund of their security deposit.
We check-in with the employee throughout their destination services experience via system-generated Pulse Checks to ensure we are meeting their expectations – and can quickly course-correct if needed. It is important to us that we provide exceptional service at all times. Visit our Destination Services page to learn about our end-to-end solutions and support.
Happy Customers
We are proud to earn the respect and admiration of the employees we assist. Here is some of our favourite feedback received from satisfied employees:
Our Local Experts Cover All of Belgium
Dwellworks pairs each relocating employee with an empathetic and experienced Destination Consultant who lives in or near the employee’s new city and knows everything there is to know about that destination location – or knows where to find the answer. Our local experts are also well versed in the nuances of the relocation process; many of them have been through the moving experience themselves.
Using our online service platform called myDwellworks®, our local Consultant connects with the employee long before their arrival in Belgium to establish a relationship, understand the employee’s priorities, and begin conducting personalized research. Consultants are familiar with neighborhood differences, school district boundaries, and the local cost of living to aid your employees in securing a rental home that meets their needs.
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Consultants are also the go-to for any other assistance or recommendations needed by your employees. Whether it’s identifying the closest bank, learning the different languages, or getting recommendations for nearby restaurants, parks, or where to find some great chocolate, Dwellworks Destination Consultants will have the answer.
With Consultants in Brussels, Antwerp, and all of the cities relocating employees want to live, we cover all major corporate hub locations. We can also assist in less traditional relocation markets. So, whether the move is to along the coast of the North Sea or at the foot of the Ardennes, our Consultants can provide area overviews and introductions, assist in the housing search, coordinate settling-in services, and offer access to other helpful guides through our myDwellworks® platform – with the continued guarantee of that personal touch.
Technology Supports Every Move
Whether employees are looking for local trusted guidance pre-arrival, tips throughout their program, or neighbourhood info and local favourites 3 months later, look no further than myDwellworks®.
Our easy-to-use online resource offers insights for successfully navigating a new location, from learning about neighbourhoods, to viewing housing styles, to ‘How To’ guides for completing important tasks – all available 24/7.
myDwellworks® is also a convenient communication platform for the employee and their Destination Consultant to send and retrieve messages, ask questions, and share and comment on properties.
And the best part? Flexibility to access the portal on a computer, tablet, or mobile phone with content not only available in 100+ languages but also for a full year after program initiation!
Understanding the Red Tape of Relocating to Belgium
The best tip we can give expatriates relocating to Belgium is to allow time for the full process. Obtaining local living registrations can take days, including the possibility of a police officer’s visit to a home to verify proof of residency. There are also unique processes for down payments for a rental. In Belgium, that down payment money goes into a joint bank account called a blocked account. This account can be accessed by the landlord or leasing agent and the renter to exchange money. Tenant rental insurance is also required in some Belgian cities.
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When finding a home, using a rental broker along with Dwellworks Consultant is ideal. Brokers are paid by landlords, represent multiple rental properties, and can share availability for property viewings with our Consultants. Our Consultants have long-standing relationships with brokers representing a range of properties across Belgium, so we have great success finding the perfect rental home for our customers.
The ideal sequence for a relocation checklist, according to our Consultants in Belgium, is listed below. Doing these tasks and obtaining paperwork in this order will make the relocation process more efficient for employees and their families moving to Belgium.
Our Consultants can help with all these critical steps:
- Setting up banking (can be done online)
Obtain renter’s insurance and signing the property lease at the same time
Signing up for local registrations with a confirmed place of residence
Other Dwellworks Services Available in Belgium
Intercultural Training
Dwellworks offers an array of Intercultural Training solutions which can be delivered pre-arrival or once settled in.
This vital service offers cultural tips and training to help employees and families acclimate faster to their new culture and feel more comfortable in their new location. Click below to learn more about Intercultural Training.
Temporary Accommodations
Have employees traveling for business, on a short-term assignment, or needing an interim housing solution prior to their final move?
We have you covered with convenient, fully furnished temporary accommodations solutions to meet all these needs and more. Click below to check out Dwellworks Living and our corporate housing solutions.