At a glance
- Give notice according to your lease, then fix the move-out inspection date.
- Shipment first, clearance second, cleaning third, inspection last.
- Request the parking ban for the clearance 5 working days ahead.
- Deregister at the municipality, at the earliest one week before you leave.
- Hand in your residence card; keep the model 8 confirmation.
In which order do you leave a rented home in Antwerpen?
Leave a rented home in this order: notice, shipment, clearance, cleaning, inspection, keys. Each step needs the previous one to be finished; a clearance on the morning of the inspection leaves no margin.
- Notice: follow the notice period in your lease and confirm it in writing.
- Shipment: the international movers pack and collect what goes along.
- Clearance: everything that stays is cleared, see end-of-lease clearance.
- Cleaning: if your lease asks for it, after the clearance.
- Move-out inspection: compared with the entry report, then the keys go back.
How many weeks before leaving should you book the clearance?
Book the clearance two to three weeks before your departure, and fix the date as soon as you know when the movers come. The parking ban for the truck needs 5 working days in Antwerpen, and the day before a departure is rarely free in your agenda.
Send photos of every room as soon as you know what goes along; you can mark items 'shipping' on the photos.
How do you deregister when you leave Belgium?
A non-Belgian resident who moves abroad permanently deregisters at the municipality where they are registered, at the earliest one week before departure. You bring your passport or ID card and your residence card for each family member; children under 12 do not need a residence card.
The deregistration takes effect on your departure date, your residence card is cancelled and you receive a confirmation called a model 8. If you still need the card until the last day, you can also report from abroad; it then takes effect from that date.
What happens to your residence card?
You hand the residence card in at the reception of your municipality, or send it back by post to that municipality if you are already abroad. After cancellation it no longer works for online government services, so download any documents you need beforehand. A paper-only residence document does not need to be handed in.
How do you get your rental deposit back?
The deposit is released after the move-out inspection, when you and the landlord agree that the home matches the entry report apart from normal wear. In Flanders the deposit for a residential lease can be up to three months' rent, usually on a blocked account in your name.
An empty, swept home and photos of every room make that agreement easier. What broom-clean means is explained in the broom-clean handover guide.
Frequently asked questions
Do I deregister at the district office or at the city?
Contact the municipality where you are registered; in Antwerpen that is the city, which works through district offices. Check the current appointment options on the city's website.
Can I sell my furniture to the clearance company?
Not to us; we do not buy goods. Sell what you want to sell first, then we clear the rest.
What if I forget to deregister?
Do it anyway, as soon as you can. Otherwise an international alert can cause problems at Schengen border checks.
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