Single tenants in Flanders spent an average of 55% of their income on housing in 2025, up from 54% in 2024, according to the latest woonbalans (living balance) report by construction federation Embuild. For dual-earner couples buying a home, housing costs accounted for 34% of their income, rising from 30% in 2021.
Housing affordability crisis deepens
The report highlights stark regional disparities. In the provinces of Flemish Brabant and Antwerp, single tenants spent as much as 66% and 64% of their income on housing, respectively.
In West Flanders, the figure was lower but still significant at 50%. The municipality of Bekkevoort in Flemish Brabant had the highest housing costs for single tenants at 72.1%, followed closely by Drogenbos (71.3%), Machelen (71.1%), and Vilvoorde (70.2%).
The most affordable municipality for single tenants was Deerlijk in West Flanders, with housing costs at 47.7%.
For dual-earner couples buying a home, Knokke-Heist remained the most expensive municipality, with housing costs at 69%, despite a decline in property prices along the coast. In and around the City of Antwerp and the Brussels peripheral municipalities, housing costs often exceeded 40%.
Conversely, many rural municipalities, particularly in West and East Flanders and Limburg, had housing costs below 30%, with Menen (Menin) being the most affordable at 20.3%.
Future outlook remains uncertain
Embuild’s woonbalans also maps the future evolution of housing affordability risks, considering six parameters: permits, building land, household evolution, homes without domicile, flood risk, and housing costs.
The report indicates that major cities and coastal municipalities currently face the greatest challenges.
The construction federation cites volatile energy prices due to the war in the Middle East, rising construction costs, and the highest mortgage interest rates in 14 years as key factors contributing to the housing affordability crisis. Additionally, rents for small flats are rising twice as quickly as those for larger apartments, exacerbating the situation for single tenants.
More information can be found on the woonbalans.be website.
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