Finding a kot in Brussels.

Kot, studio, shared flat: which housing in Brussels?

• The kot: a furnished room rented in a shared house or building, with kitchen and bathroom often shared. It is the most common student option.
• The kot-à-projet: communal housing where students live together around a shared voluntary project (cultural, social, sporting).
• The studio: a complete independent dwelling (kitchenette and private bathroom), more expensive than a kot.
• The shared flat: an apartment or house shared by several people, generally on a common lease.
• The student residence: a dedicated building, managed by the university or a private operator. Supply there is far below demand.

How much does student housing in Brussels cost?

Where to look for your kot?

• Your university's housing service (the ULB, for example, points to its housing platform and to MyKot, with a regulated model contract).
• Recognised platforms such as MyKot, operated by Brik, which checks the quality of the housing and can act as a mediator in the event of a dispute.
• The kot portals (Student.be, Kotplace, Brukot) for listings of rooms, studios and shared flats.
• If you go through a real estate agency, check that it is properly registered with the Professional Institute of Real Estate Agents (IPI).

Lease, guarantee, inventory: what to check

• The student lease is limited to twelve months maximum; you can terminate it at any time with two months' notice.
• The rental guarantee cannot exceed two months' rent in Brussels, and must be placed on a blocked account in your name (or via the public service e-DEPO).
• A detailed entry inventory must be annexed to the lease: it is your best protection when recovering the guarantee.

Registration at the municipality

A foreign student who settles in Belgium must report to the municipal administration of their place of residence after arriving (within eight working days, or during the first three months depending on the case) for a declaration of arrival and the residence permit application. The local police then carry out a residence check at the declared address: you therefore need real housing and an effective address. As documents and deadlines vary from one municipality to another, check with your municipality.

How Studacy supports you

We support many international students with their move to Brussels. We point you to the right search channels, we help you read a lease and secure the guarantee, we flag the pitfalls to avoid, and we prepare the municipality registration steps. The goal: to arrive with reliable housing and a move with no nasty surprises.