Discrimination in housing continues: a real struggle for those looking for a home in Flanders
Discrimination still poses a real obstacle for many trying to rent a home in Flanders, amid a doubling of the number of housing seekers over five years, alongside a sharp decline in the number of rental properties available and a significant increase in prices.
Eva and Liz, both single mothers of two children each, enjoy stable jobs and good income, but faced significant difficulties after divorce in finding suitable housing. Eva visited 47 properties over the course of a year, but was rejected each time, as many landlords prefer not to rent their homes to single mothers with children.
Eva explained that her foreign family name increased her suffering, as some landlords explicitly told her that they do not rent to foreigners. She said that the invitations to view homes only came after informing them that she had savings from the sale of her previous home, before OCMW (Social Welfare Centres) even suggested temporary accommodation in a homeless shelter.
As for Liz, who is a teacher, she had to search for nine months and wrote dozens of letters to convince landlords of her ability to pay the rent. Progress was only made after submitting a recommendation letter from her employer, reflecting landlords' preference for dual-income families.
An investigation conducted by VRT through the WinWin program showed that these cases are not exceptions. Out of 45 properties that were contacted, the team received only 16 viewing invitations. Christophe Thijs from CIB (the Property Network) confirmed that single individuals, who make up a third of the population in Flanders, are at a disadvantage due to intense competition, which can reach up to 150 applicants for a single property.
The exacerbation of the crisis is due to the increased demand for private rentals and the shortage of social housing, with around 200,000 families waiting for their turn. The number of properties available has also decreased due to the cancellation of tax exemptions, tightening energy efficiency laws, and some landlords opting to sell or rent through Airbnb. As a result, rents have increased by 25% over five years, from €717 per month to €893, putting more pressure on the most vulnerable groups.