Property advice for farmhouses, country homes and villas in rural settings
Practical insights for buying or selling rural property or a villa in a rural setting. Learn which permits, documents and financial questions to check early.
Homes outside residential zoning: what can you do with a country house or rural villa?
Rural locations raise questions about land designation and permitted status. Check these before making an offer or selling.
Registration duties on a farmhouse with meadows
Which rate might apply to the home, barn and separate plots? Distinguish current law from the proposed 2027 change.
How do mortgage rates affect the country-house market?
A change in interest rates affects possible monthly payments. Consider the whole property with a dated NBB series.
Turning a farmhouse into a home or guest accommodation: what is allowed?
An attractive interior is not a permit. Check current use, secondary activities and outbuildings.
Buying a farmhouse across the regional border
A plot in Flanders or Wallonia needs a different tax and planning assessment.
Flood information for a farmhouse and its meadows
Connect plot and building scores and other flood information to the correct land and buildings in the sale file.
Asbestos certificates for an older farmhouse: do stables count?
Several small outbuildings may count together. Prepare an inspection of the whole holding.
Soil certificates for multiple rural plots
The home, yard and meadows may require separate documents. A clear plot list makes the file readable.
Regularising an old alteration to a farmhouse before selling
Compare the current property with permits and describe unresolved issues accurately.
A natural swimming pond or pool at a country home
Assess existing surfaces, location, water rules and local provisions together.
Improving the EPC of a country home
Check the label, post-purchase duties and appropriate improvements for the specific property.
Declaring work on a farmhouse or outbuildings to the cadastre
Identify reportable alterations, the plots involved and any possible revision of cadastral income.
About this advice · These articles provide general information as at their stated editorial dates. Rules and rates can change. Ask the competent authority and, where appropriate, your notary, architect or specialist to confirm the position for your property or purchase.