Housing

Temporary accomodation for VUB Staff

VUB may be able to provide temporary accommodation through the options listed below, subject to availability. These accommodations can be used as a temporary place to stay while looking for long-term housing in Belgium.

Availability, eligibility and booking conditions differ for each option. Temporary accommodation therefore cannot be guaranteed.

LIVING LAB

Living Lab offers eight simple single rooms on the VUB Main Campus in Etterbeek. The rooms have shared bathroom facilities and access to a basic kitchen. Accommodation is subject to availability. The cost is €80 per night, including breakfast in the VUB restaurant on weekdays. Guests staying for a full week benefit from a reduced weekly rate of €350.

Booking

A stay at Living Lab can only be booked using a VUB PKC number. A PKC number is an internal VUB financial code used for budget allocation and invoicing.

Payment by cash or card is not possible. The booking must therefore be requested by your VUB department, faculty or supervisor. The accommodation costs will be charged internally to the PKC number provided.

To request a room, your VUB department, faculty or supervisor must first contact Hospitality by email and clearly state the applicable PKC number. After internal approval, a confirmation email will be sent with the booking link and practical check-in information. The reservation is only final after this confirmation.

More information and contact

For more information about availability, eligibility, booking and the applicable conditions, please contact:

Please note that the SharePoint page can only be accessed with an active VUB account.

BrIAS ACCOMMODATION

The Brussels Institute for Advanced Studies, or BrIAS, is an initiative co-founded by VUB and ULB. BrIAS is located at Boulevard Général Jacques 210 in Ixelles, within walking distance of the VUB Main Campus. Accommodation is subject to availability.

Booking 

To request accommodation, you must provide an invitation letter signed by your VUB supervisor (a VUB academic staff member). Please visit the internal information webpage to download the required template. Once completed, send the template to accommodation@brias.be. Subject to apartment availability, BRIAS will then arrange your stay. The minimum stay is 7 nights.

More information and contact

For more information about availability, eligibility, booking and the applicable conditions, please contact:

Hotels and hostels

Hotels and hostels may be suitable for a short stay immediately after your arrival. You can search for accommodation through platforms such as:

These platforms and accommodations are not managed or facilitated by VUB.

Please note that hotels, hostels and similar short-stay accommodations may not allow official address registration. Verify this with the accommodation provider and the municipality before booking.

HOUSINGANYWHERE

HousingAnywhere is an external online rental platform through which tenants can search for and book accommodation.

The platform can be used to explore furnished rooms, studios and apartments before or after arriving in Belgium. Always carefully review the listing, rental conditions, cancellation policy, additional costs and payment arrangements before confirming a booking.

HousingAnywhere is not managed or facilitated by VUB.

Long term accomodation and private market

Long term accomodation

If you decide to search for long-term accommodation after arriving in Belgium, visiting properties in person can help you assess their condition, explore the neighbourhood and determine whether they meet your needs.

Before your arrival, you can already explore different neighbourhoods, compare rental prices and prepare a list of properties you would like to visit. You may also choose to arrange your long-term accommodation entirely before moving to Belgium.

For general information about finding accommodation and renting a property in Brussels, consult the housing information provided by the Commissioner Brussels Europe & International. This includes information about rental agreements, rental deposits, inventories and indexation.

PRIVATE MARKET OPTIONS

Once you are familiar with the main points to consider, you can start exploring the private rental market. Online real estate platforms provide listings for rooms, studios, apartments and houses in Brussels and the surrounding municipalities.

Possible platforms include:

These are external platforms and are not managed or facilitated by VUB. VUB cannot verify individual listings, landlords, agencies or rental conditions.

Housing

If you prefer securing accommodation from abroad, and you cannot come to Belgium to check it beforehand, it is advisable to take into account the following aspects:  

  • Many landlords prefer tenants they have met in person, so finding what you want might be more challenging. 
  • Make sure to have all information you need before signing a contract since this contract is as valid as if you would sign a contract with a landlord in person. A signed contract cannot be terminated before its end date. Pictures can (even unintentionally) be misleading. It is advisable to ask the landlord for as much information as possible about the size, facilities, etc. 
  • If you sign a contract from abroad, we advise you to keep all communication (e.g. emails) between you and the landlord regarding the rent of your accommodation. 
  • Be wary of internet fraud. Do not transfer any money before receiving your signed contract.  

Found a property?  

Follow the links below to learn more about renting a property, signing a rental agreement, and getting insurance:

Questions?

Mail us your question via m&o_international@vub.be