Brussels Launches Plan to Combat Housing Discrimination and Ensure Equal Access

"Too many Brussels residents are victims of discrimination when looking for housing. As a result, faced with unjustified refusals from landlords or real estate agents, victims of discrimination are forced to accept unsuitable or unsanitary housing at often exorbitant rents," says in substance the Secretary of State for Housing, Nawal Ben Hamou.

To solve this equation, the region has launched the Emergency Housing Plan. This system aims to strengthen the provisions of the Brussels Housing Code relating to the fight against discrimination in housing, the recruitment of additional inspectors to increase the number of cases handled by the Regional Housing Inspection Directorate (DIRL) and the launch of a communication campaign to inform applicant-tenants of the legal options available to them when they are discriminated against.

Éric Mathay, President of the Brussels regional branch of the National Union of Owners and Co-owners (SNPC), protests against the theme of "discrimination" which he thinks is inappropriate. Because, he explains, it is almost impossible to show the many housing applicants who often respond to an ad. "We are forced to make a selection," explains this representative of the owners, arguing that it is not a question of discrimination but of choosing profiles that best match the criteria of the rented property.

Another advance granted by the region is the possibility given to the regional housing inspection to engage actors to carry out situation testing. The Secretary of State for Housing has tabled a preliminary draft ordinance, adopted on first reading by the government on April 29, aimed at relaxing this legal framework. "Anti-discrimination testing will therefore become proactive testing, a first in Belgium," rejoices the Secretary of State. The preliminary draft also aims to extend the list of discrimination criteria and prevent "extremely intrusive" information sheets before a simple visit.

With these new measures, Unia, the public institution for equal opportunities and the fight against racism, welcomes a political will to go "in the right direction". However, Unia notes that the fierce competition in the real estate sector inevitably leads to discrimination.
For Éric Mathay, the real problem does not come from private landlords