Registering a holiday home in Flanders: how to declare your accommodation

Do I have to register my holiday home in Flanders?

Yes. Anyone in Flanders who lets tourists stay overnight for payment has to declare their accommodation to Toerisme Vlaanderen. That applies even if you only rent out now and then, for example a few nights a year through Airbnb, Booking.com or Vrbo. The declaration is not a formality for large operators only: it applies to every holiday home, gîte, B&B or room you rent out.

The requirement comes from the Flemish Tourist Accommodation Decree (Logiesdecreet). Without a valid declaration you are renting out unlawfully in principle, and booking platforms often ask for that registration number before you are allowed to place a listing.

Declaring or recognition: what is the difference?

Two terms are often confused. Declaring is compulsory: you register your accommodation and receive a unique registration number. Recognition is optional: an accommodation adviser from Toerisme Vlaanderen then confirms that you meet all the conditions, possibly with a star classification. For most hosts the declaration is enough. Recognition is an extra quality label you can apply for yourself.

How to declare your holiday home

The quickest way is online, through the operator portal of Toerisme Vlaanderen. You log in with your electronic identity card (eID), fill in your details as an operator and describe your accommodation: the type, the number of rental units and the number of sleeping places. With the online declaration you receive your registration number straight away in an automatic email.

If you cannot or do not want to work online, there is a paper form that you send by email or registered post. Your registration number then follows a few days later. The declaration itself is free of charge.

You will need: your eID, your operator details and the details of your accommodation. You confirm that you meet the basic standards around safety, hygiene and fire safety. All the details are on the Declare your accommodation page of Toerisme Vlaanderen.

Which basic standards do you have to meet?

A holiday home in Flanders has to meet a number of minimum operating conditions. The most important ones:

• A separate, lockable entrance to the property, with a personal right of use for the guest during the stay.
• A kitchen with a worktop with a free socket, a hob with at least 2 rings and a fridge of at least 90 litres.
• Bedrooms with natural light, a way to block out light and sockets.
• At least one lockable bathroom and toilet with hot and cold water.
• Heating, and a property that is cleaned and well aired before every stay.
• Availability: the operator or a responsible person is reachable during office hours.

Separate fire safety standards apply as well. Depending on the capacity of your accommodation, a fire safety certificate may be needed. Check the exact rules on the fire safety page of Toerisme Vlaanderen before you rent out.

What do you do with your registration number?

Once you have your number, you mention it with your rental and on the booking platforms where you advertise. Your accommodation also goes into the public base register of the Flemish accommodation offer. That way it is clear to guests and authorities that you are in order.

And after that: managing your rental smoothly

You arrange the declaration once with Toerisme Vlaanderen. After that the daily work begins: keeping track of availability, avoiding double bookings and dealing with guests properly. An availability calendar such as Rentiplanner helps with that: you manage your occupancy in one calendar, synchronise through iCal with Airbnb and Booking.com, and let guests book directly through your own website. That way you also keep the practical side under control after registration.

Do you also rent out in Wallonia? A separate registration requirement applies there. Read our guide on the BELWAL registration in Wallonia.

Frequently asked questions

Do I have to declare if I only rent out a few weekends a year?

Yes. The declaration requirement applies from the first paid overnight stay, even if you only rent out occasionally through Airbnb, Booking.com or your own channels. There is no lower limit: every paid rental to tourists falls under the Tourist Accommodation Decree.

What does the declaration with Toerisme Vlaanderen cost?

The declaration itself is free. You pay nothing to obtain your registration number. Costs can follow from meeting the standards, for example for fire safety, but the registration is free of charge.

How quickly do I get my registration number?

With an online declaration through the operator portal you receive your registration number straight away. If you use the paper form, the number follows a few days later.

Do I need a fire safety certificate?

That depends on your accommodation. Separate fire safety standards apply, and depending on the capacity of your accommodation a certificate may be required. Check the fire safety page of Toerisme Vlaanderen for the rules that apply to your situation.

Where do I keep track of my availability and bookings after the declaration?

You arrange the declaration once with Toerisme Vlaanderen. For the daily management, your availability, bookings and the synchronisation with Airbnb and Booking.com, you use a separate tool such as Rentiplanner. Registration and management are therefore two separate things.