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What temperature should a home be heated to?

Verified 20 December 2021 - Directorate for Legal and Administrative Information (Prime Minister)

In general, heating is considered insufficient when it does not allow to reach 18 °C in the center of each room. In the event of overheating or underheating, the judge may, inter alia, impose sanctions (on a case-by-case basis) for compensation for the damage suffered by the occupant of the dwelling. The steps to be taken vary if the dwelling is inhabited by a tenant or if it is inhabited by its owner and is part of a condominium.

Dwelling inhabited by a tenant

The temperature of a room in a dwelling corresponds to the air temperature, measured at the center of the room and 1.5 meters above the ground.

To obtain the average of the temperatures, the temperature of each room must be weighted by its volume.

Example :

In a housing comprising 2 rooms, the 1re room has a temperature of 18 °C and is 20 m3, on 2e room has a temperature of 19 °C and is 25 m3 :

  • The temperature of the 1re coin must be multiplied by: 20 / (20 + 25), i.e. 20/45, which is equal to 0.4.
    The weighted temperature is 18 x 0.4 = 7.2 °C
  • The temperature of the 2e coin must be multiplied by: 25 / (20 + 25), i.e. 25/45, which is equal to 0.6.
    The weighted temperature is 19 x 0.6 = 11.4 °C
  • The average housing temperature is: 7.2 + 11.4 = 18.6 °C

FYI  

if you feel it's too hot or too cold, you can do a temperature check yourself or have it done at your own expense.

The minimum temperature depends on the date of filing of the building permit:

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Building permits filed after June 1, 2001

The temperature measured at the center of each room must be capable of being maintained at a minimum of 18°C.

If not, the tenant may require the landlord to intervene.

If the temperature is 18°C, the tenant cannot demand a temperature increase. If they add extra heating to get a temperature increase, they're paying for extra heating.

Older accommodation

The tenant must be able to warm up normally, in accordance with minimum standards of decent housing. If this is not the case, the tenant can require the landlord to do the necessary work.

Please note

the law has not defined what it means warm up normally. This is a matter for the protection litigation judge.

Who shall I contact

Who shall I contact

If a temperature check indicates overheating or underheating:

  1. The tenant must inform the landlord (or the real estate agency that manages the rental of the accommodation). The landlord (or real estate agency) must then make the necessary arrangements to ensure that the heating system is properly adjusted.
  2. If the landlord (or the real estate agency) does not react, the tenant must demand that the landlord (or the real estate agency) do the necessary. To do this, you must send him a registered mail with acknowledgement of receipt.
  3. If these steps are not successful, the tenant can refer the protection of the court on which the dwelling depends to the litigation judge.

In a heated housing, the average of the temperatures measured at the center of each room is restricted to 19° C.

Consequently, a heating which does not allow the average temperature of 19° C. to be exceeded in the housing is not considered to be defective.

FYI  

the average temperature of the housing is obtained by weighting the temperature of each part by its volume.

Example :

In a housing comprising 2 rooms, the 1re room has a temperature of 18 °C and is 20 m3, on 2e room has a temperature of 19 °C and is 25 m3 :

  • The temperature of the 1re coin must be multiplied by: 20 / (20 + 25), i.e. 20/45, which is equal to 0.4.
    The weighted temperature is 18 x 0.4 = 7.2 °C
  • The temperature of the 2e coin must be multiplied by: 25 / (20 + 25), i.e. 25/45, which is equal to 0.6.
    The weighted temperature is 19 x 0.6 = 11.4 °C
  • The average housing temperature is: 7.2 + 11.4 = 18.6 °C

Owner-inhabited dwelling (condominium)

The temperature of a room in a dwelling corresponds to the air temperature, measured at the center of the room and 1.5 meters above the ground.

To obtain the average of the temperatures, the temperature of each room must be weighted by its volume.

Example :

In a housing comprising 2 rooms, the 1re room has a temperature of 18 °C and is 20 m3, on 2e room has a temperature of 19 °C and is 25 m3 :

  • The temperature of the 1re coin must be multiplied by: 20 / (20 + 25), i.e. 20/45, which is equal to 0.4.
    The weighted temperature is 18 x 0.4 = 7.2 °C
  • The temperature of the 2e coin must be multiplied by: 25 / (20 + 25), i.e. 25/45, which is equal to 0.6.
    The weighted temperature is 19 x 0.6 = 11.4 °C
  • The average housing temperature is: 7.2 + 11.4 = 18.6 °C

FYI  

if you feel it's too hot or too cold, you can do a temperature check yourself or have it done at your own expense.

The minimum temperature depends on the date of filing of the building permit:

Filed after June 1, 2001

The temperature measured at the center of each room must be capable of being maintained at a minimum of 18°C.

If this is not the case, the co-owner may require the trustee to intervene.

If the temperature is 18°C, the co-owner cannot demand a temperature rise. If they add extra heating to get a temperature increase, they're paying for extra heating.

Filed before this date

The regulations do not set a minimum temperature.

If a temperature check indicates overheating or underheating:

  1. The co-owner must send a registered mail with acknowledgement of receipt to the condominium trustee. This letter must inform the condominium trustee of the situation and demand that he ensure that the heating system is properly adjusted.
  2. If this does not work, the co-owner can apply to the court on which his dwelling depends.

In a heated housing, the average of the temperatures measured at the center of each room is restricted to 19° C.

Consequently, a heating which does not allow the average temperature of 19° C. to be exceeded in the housing is not considered to be defective.

FYI  

the average temperature of the housing is obtained by weighting the temperature of each part by its volume.

Example :

In a housing comprising 2 rooms, the 1re room has a temperature of 18 °C and is 20 m3, on 2e room has a temperature of 19 °C and is 25 m3 :

  • The temperature of the 1re coin must be multiplied by: 20 / (20 + 25), i.e. 20/45, which is equal to 0.4.
    The weighted temperature is 18 x 0.4 = 7.2 °C
  • The temperature of the 2e coin must be multiplied by: 25 / (20 + 25), i.e. 25/45, which is equal to 0.6.
    The weighted temperature is 19 x 0.6 = 11.4 °C
  • The average housing temperature is: 7.2 + 11.4 = 18.6 °C

Who can help me?

Find who can answer your questions in your region

  • Telephone administrative information - Allo Public Service

    The informants who answer you belong to the ministry in charge of housing and city planning.

    Cost: free service

    Attention: the service does not have access to users' personal files and therefore cannot provide information on their progress.

    The service is available at the following times:

    • Monday: 8.30am to 5.30pm
    • Tuesday: 8:30 to 12:15
    • Wednesday: 8:30 to 12:15
    • Thursday: 8.30am to 5.30pm
    • Friday: 1 p.m. to 4:15 p.m

  • Departmental Agency for Housing Information (Adil)

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