Housing bonus
Historical tax benefit on mortgage repayments, abolished in all three regions.
Full definition
The housing bonus (woonbonus in Flanders) was a tax advantage that allowed owners to deduct the interest, capital repayments and outstanding balance insurance premiums of the mortgage on their own home. Since the sixth state reform, the regions have been in charge of it, and each has abolished it for new loans. Brussels did so for loans taken out from 1 January 2017 and raised its registration duty abatement in return. Flanders did so for loans taken out from 1 January 2020; in return, the registration duty on a sole own home fell from 7% to 6% in 2020, then to 3% in 2022 and 2% in 2025. Wallonia replaced it in 2016 with the chèque habitat, itself abolished for homes bought or built from 1 January 2025. Loans taken out before these dates keep their advantage until their planned end.
Related terms
Housing cheque
Former Walloon tax advantage for the mortgage on a sole own home, abolished in 2025.
Mortgage loan
Bank loan secured by a mortgage on the property.
Abatement
Part of the price exempt from registration duties when buying one's own home, today in the Brussels Region.
Registration rights
Regional tax due when purchasing real estate in Belgium.