A growing city with 410,000 expats

Brussels is one of the fastest-growing cities in Western Europe: since the mid-1990s, its population has risen by around 30%. This is largely due to the international character of our capital. As the capital of the European Union and home to NATO and many large multinationals, Brussels attracts more expats and highly educated high-potential professionals year after year. Recent figures from KBC show that there are currently more than 410,000 expats living in Brussels, accounting for around 35% of the city’s population.

To put this impressive figure into perspective: at the start of this century, the number of expats in our country was estimated at 150,000. Figures from 2018 put the number at 220,000. In light of the crises of recent years,
this increase is remarkable, yet at the same time it demonstrates the incredible potential our country holds for expats. Major international institutions, such as NATO, and the European Quarter make Brussels highly sought-after among expats. Its reputation as one of the world’s most important political capitals also attracts considerable attention abroad.

‘Designed to attract highly educated expats and to ensure you a high rental yield.’

Villa Verde: the essence

• Renting to expats: guaranteed high rental rates
• Creditworthy, reliable tenants: the employer covers the rent
• The developer also provides the letting service after the sale: quality is our top priority
• Letting service: you don’t have to do a thing to make your investment profitable
• Prime location and top architect: the prospect of substantial capital appreciation

Expats are driving up rent prices

The high number of expats is also having an impact on the property market, which, certainly in Brussels, is increasingly geared towards the business sector. Rents there are the highest in the country, and this is largely due to the large number of expats.

“Through our letting service, Skyline Renting, we work directly with NATO delegations, embassies and multinationals such as Toyota, ExxonMobil, Nippon, Euroclear and Eurocontrol,” explains Guillaume Dubucq of Skyline Renting.

“As the market leader in furnished rentals and thanks to our many years of experience, people know us well. We also work with relocation agencies. These are often hired by companies to help their international employees find a flat and sort out their paperwork. We offer a comprehensive service, for both landlords and tenants.”

Villa Verde: quality living in the right location

What do expats look for when searching for the right home? Living comfort, quality and the right location.
“Accessibility has really become a decisive factor in expats’ choice of home,” says Dubucq. “They want to live in Brussels, but preferably in a location from which the city centre is easily accessible. We’re seeing very high demand for the green belt around Brussels, and the neighbourhoods around the European Commission, the European Parliament and NATO are also hugely sought-after.

Take Villa Verde in Sint-Lambrechts-Woluwe, for example. It’s a dream for property investors, as it’s a top strategic choice for letting to expats. We always opt for such prime locations because – unlike other property developers – we remain actively involved with our properties even after the sale through our letting service, Skyline Renting. Naturally, we won’t build in places where we won’t be able to let the flats afterwards.”