Can you rent a house in a cellar, in a basement or in the attic?

Verified 06 October 2023 - Directorate for Legal and Administrative Information (Prime Minister)

Do you want to rent your basement or attic? The premises must meet certain conditions to be habitable. They must respect the decency characteristics.

We are taking stock of the situation.

The cellar is an underground room with no opening to the outside.

You cannot not to rent your cellar, whatever the arrangements and transformations you make there.

Yes, you can rent accommodation in a basement if it does not not a risk to the health of the tenant.

It must be fitted out for a residential use and respond to criteria following:

  • Living room with a living area not less than 9 m² and one sub-ceiling height of 2,20 meters or more or a habitable volume not less than 20 m3
  • Sufficient natural illumination with openings to the outside allowing sufficient natural ventilation

FYI  

Natural lighting is sufficient when it allows you to read in clear weather and in the middle of the day without resorting to artificial lighting while you are settled in the center of the room.

Yes, you can rent accommodation in attic. They must be fitted out for a residential use and respond to criteria following:

  • Solid floor guaranteeing security of tenure
  • Living room with a living area not less than 9 m² and one sub-ceiling height of 2,20 meters or more or a habitable volume not less than 20 m3
  • Sufficient natural illumination with openings to the outside allowing sufficient natural ventilation

FYI  

Natural lighting is sufficient when it allows you to read in clear weather and in the middle of the day without resorting to artificial lighting while you are settled in the center of the room.

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  • Info housing undignified (unsanitary, dangerous...)

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