On 1 January 2025, Wallonia implemented a historic reform. Registration duties on one's own and only home dropped from 12.5% to 3%. A deliberate choice by the MR: reduce the tax burden to make it easier to become a homeowner, especially for young people and working families.
A year later, the figures confirm that this reform is meeting its objectives. According to Statbel, property purchases in Wallonia rose by 23% between 2024 and 2025. All categories of property are affected: terraced houses, detached houses and flats. Around 40% of properties sold go for €200,000 or less: a far cry from the left's caricature of a “reform for the rich”.
For Valérie De Bue, MR group leader in the Walloon Parliament, the message is clear: “This is an important reform that greatly supports access to homeownership. In Wallonia, we have everything to gain by supporting access to housing in a smart and responsible way. On the ground, this means projects being realised sooner, young couples becoming homeowners, and families finally being able to buy a home suited to their needs.”
A finding confirmed by notaries
This finding is reinforced by those on the ground. In Le Soir, notary Celena Delli Santi explains that she sees “more often people buying their first property, and they are younger”. Her colleague Simon Gérard adds that “the 3% registration duty has allowed many buyers to aim for “higher-quality properties, because they have more money in their pocket, and to free up funds for renovation work, energy performance and EPB obligations.”
Concretely, the reform produces three major effects:
- more property transactions, across all regions of Wallonia;
- more young homeowners, gaining access to a first property earlier;
- a qualitative leap, with newer, better-insulated and better-located homes.