🔑 Can I sublet my rental?

With conditions

Quick answer

Subletting is possible, but never the whole home without your landlord's written consent. Two conditions always apply: the home must be your main residence and the landlord must agree. Subletting the whole home is possible only with prior written consent. Subletting part is allowed if you keep living in the rest (as your main residence) and the landlord agrees. Importantly, as the main tenant you stay fully liable to your landlord, including for damage caused by the sub-tenant, and the sublet can never last longer than your own lease. In Flanders this is set in article 32 of the housing-lease decree; in Wallonia written consent and a written sub-lease are required; in Brussels tacit consent can sometimes suffice. Subletting without consent is a contractual fault that can dissolve your lease.

📋 The rules

Two conditions: the home is your main residence and the landlord agrees
Subletting the whole home: only with prior written consent
Subletting part is allowed if you keep living in the rest as your main residence
As the main tenant you stay fully liable to the landlord
The sublet can never last longer than your own lease
Flanders: art. 32 housing-lease decree; Wallonia: written consent + sub-lease; Brussels: tacit consent possible

🔓 Exceptions

If you receive a rent allowance (Wallonia/Brussels), you generally may not sublet — on pain of losing the allowance
Putting your home on Airbnb is also subletting and needs registration or a permit (separate rules)

⚠️ Penalties & fines

Subletting without the required consent is not a crime, but a contractual fault. After a formal notice, the landlord can ask the justice of the peace to dissolve your lease at your fault, evict the sub-tenant and award damages. The sub-tenant then loses everything, as their rights depend entirely on your main lease.

📎 Official sources