From next year, the calculation of social rent will take into account the energy performance of publicly owned housing. The aim? Greater fairness between tenants and a strengthened capacity of the sector to renovate.
It made no sense: until now, the more a public housing company (SLSP) renovated, the more money it lost, which discouraged investment, led to a gradual deterioration of the housing stock and slowed down the energy transition. The reason was that all tenants paid rent capped at 20% of their income, regardless of the energy performance of their home.
| EPC | Caps |
| A | 26% |
| B | 25% |
| C | 24% |
| D | 23% |
| E | 22% |
| F | 21% |
| G | 20% |
The Walloon Government is putting an end to this negative spiral, through a reform of the social rent calculation, approved this Thursday in its third and final reading. The principle of “warm rent”, now made concrete, will make it possible to take into account the energy performance of the home. Specifically, the social rent cap will be adjusted according to the property's EPC rating, ranging from 20% (EPC G) to 26% (EPC A) of the tenant household's income.
Dual objective
The aim is twofold: to support energy renovations carried out by SLSPs and to restore fairness between tenants. More energy-efficient homes will indeed allow households to reduce their costs while improving their comfort.
This new framework will come into force on 1 January 2027. A transitional phase is planned to support tenants. Rent adjustments for households already occupying the most energy-efficient homes will be phased in over two years.
This reform represents a decisive step towards a more sustainable and lasting model for the housing sector, and an important milestone for the energy renovation of the public housing stock.
Cécile Neven, Walloon Minister for Energy and Housing: “This reform gives concrete shape to our determination to build a fair, transparent and sustainable framework, serving tenants and housing companies, as well as the transition. We are aligning social rents with the energy reality of buildings and are finally giving the sector the means to renovate the public housing stock.”