How should newcomers find short-term housing in Belgium in 2026?

Aparthotels and extended-stay residences in Brussels, Antwerp and near major stations sell weekly or monthly rates with a kitchenette. They are expensive versus a year lease, but they usually take a passport and card without Belgian rental history.

Corporate housing and furnished operators lease by the month to relocating staff. Ask whether charges, Wi-Fi, cleaning and tourist-tax style fees are included so nightly rates compare honestly.

Platform stays (Airbnb and similar) work when the listing follows regional tourist-accommodation rules. In the Brussels-Capital Region, hosts renting from one night up to ninety consecutive days generally need registration with Brussels Economy and Employment. Unregistered tourist lets can cancel or create problems; confirm the address and host identity before paying. Flanders and Wallonia also regulate tourist stays, so treat "any flat on a platform" as incomplete due diligence.

Use the bridge window to assemble the tenant pack described in how to rent a home in Belgium: ID, euro income proof, references and a plan for e-DEPO or another allowed deposit channel. Tour in person. Compare total move-in cash against rent levels and deposit caps for Flanders, Brussels or Wallonia.

Book the bridge near the job or the commune where you intend to register. A cheap stay an hour from Schuman or the Antwerp port campus can erase savings in train fares and wasted viewing days. If landlords push for a guarantor you lack, read renting without a guarantor before offering unlawful extra cash.

Sublets and "take over my lease" posts need landlord written approval and an in-person check. Never wire a deposit for a unit you have not entered; that overlaps with rental scam patterns.