Here are some examples of the Q&A service on Expatica housing.

Subject: Buying property

Reader's Question:
We recently bought a house near la Foret des Soignes (Auderghem). After having found a recommended 'entrepeneur', we agreed on the contents and the prices stated on the 'cahier des charges' which was also used as the proposal of the entreprise générale. We both signed the proposal or the cahier des charges as the sole sort of contract. Is it a binding contract? We'd like to know if there is a legal -volunteering service that would take a look at the proposal and tell us if we are bound to stick to this entrepeneur, given it's not really a contract, and what are his duties vis-à vis our renovation project? How can we recuperate our money? Are there procedures in Belgium (Brussels in this case) set up to protect the consumer without having to spend a fortune in legal battles?

Expert Christian Hasiba replies:

I am not an legal expert; this sounds like a problem of contract Law. I guess that the signed cahier des charges plus a down payment can be perfectly understood as a contract but if he does not honour his part of the contract it will be pretty easy to get out of it. If this person is not honest it will however be difficult to recover your money. I recommend to go and see a lawyer. Cordialement, Sincerely, Christian Hasiba

Reader's Question:

Hi expert...my question relates to land I bought in 2005 with the intention to build a house to live in ...I am not going ahead now as I cannnot get a building type loan so will sell. What is the tax rate? and does the Belgian notaire collect the tax at point of sale or do I declare?

Expert Christian Hasiba replies:
Hello, You will normally be taxed 16% on the difference between the total cost of acquisition (price + registrations fees + Notaire + all the expenses you had) and the sales price. You have to declare that in your tax declaration; your Notaire can help. Sincerely, Christian Hasiba

[The above questions and answers were taken from our Ask the Expert section under the 'Buying Property' category. Other housing categories include 'Renting a house' and 'Mortgages'.]

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If you would like to ask housing expert Christian Hasiba or one of our other experts a question then go to our Ask-the-expert section. You will find Christian listed under Buying property.