Accommodations are somewhat easy to find in Brussels. Whether you are looking to purchase, rent, or share a flat, there are bulletin boards, newspapers, and websites all over to help you find a place to stay. While prices depend very much on the region or neighborhood you live in, leases are pretty standard throughout the city. In Brussels, if not specified, a lease is understood to be for a period of nine years. Short term leases are available with an average duration of three years.

Rental housing in the Brussels region is varied in price. Flats start at around 600 Euro and extend upward depending on size and location. Prices are of course higher to rent houses rather than flats or apartments. By searching websites and bulletin boards, it is possible to find an apartment with a shorter term leases than the standard three to nine years.

Much like in the United States, rental housing must meet certain requirements for safety and habitability. The official website for the city of Brussels has a wealth of information for potential renters at http://www.belgium.be/en/housing/renting_a_home/index.jsp

As it is with rentals, purchase prices on property in Brussels depend largely on the size and location of the property, as well as the condition. As in the United States, property owners are responsible for property taxes and all other taxes, such as the VAT or value added tax.

The purchase price for homes in Brussels is quite varied. Prices start at around 150,000 Euro for a small flat suited for one or two people. Purchase prices depend on many things, from location to current market conditions.

Sites such as http://www.immoweb.be/ have very thorough listings of homes for sale and rent, including temporary or holiday rentals. Equally good is Eurohouse, located at http://www.eurohouse.be/pages/introduction.html. Eurohouse lists properties by region within Brussels and has pictures and prices for each property. They also list houses and flats both for sale and rent.

Maids and aupairs are quite common in Brussels. In fact, aupair is one of the most common expatriate jobs in the country of Belgium. Great Au Pair is an excellent website for finding an Au Pair of your own, and is located online at http://www.greataupair.com/. From there you can search by company and filter whether you want someone to live in or out of the home as well as many other criteria.

Recycling is not mandatory in Brussels, but is of course recommended. There are different containers for different recyclables, many of which can be picked up from your home. There are numerous recycling centers for recyclable materials not picked up curbside in Brussels. For more information on recycling, visit http://www.belgium.be/en/environment/sorting_and_recycling_household_waste/.

There are regional taxes on things such as water, television, official trash/rubbish bags, and gas in Brussels. These taxes are determined using the population register and charged by the company with which you have a utility account. The official website for regional taxes in Brussels is http://www.rtr.irisnet.be/, but it is important to note that the site is only listed in French and Dutch.

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