Sint-Pieters-Leeuw (Brussels Morning Newspaper) – Sint-Pieters-Leeuw reintroduced the right of first refusal. Mayor Jan Desmeth and Alderman Jeroen Tiebout aim to secure affordable housing in village centres, protecting first-time buyers and expanding social housing.
As VRT News reported, in Sint-Pieters-Leeuw, in the province of Flemish Brabant, Belgium, the municipality and the social housing group Woonpunt Zennevallei will reintroduce the right of 1st refusal. Mayor Jan Desmeth (N-VA) said this system existed in Flanders in the past, but was later stopped. He explained that bringing it back in Sint-Pieters-Leeuw is aimed at helping residents find affordable homes in a housing market that is very competitive.
What can Sint-Pieters-Leeuw’s right of 1st refusal do for housing?
Sint-Pieters-Leeuw has reintroduced a priority system that allows the municipality and the social housing association Woonpunt Zennevallei to buy houses and building plots before other buyers. Alderman for the Environment Jeroen Tiebout said the municipality buys under the same conditions as private buyers, so sellers do not lose money.
He added that the municipality’s budget is limited, so not every property can be purchased. The system ensures that social and affordable housing can expand while keeping the market fair for sellers.
The right of pre-emption has specific rules. Properties must be located in areas defined by the Provincial Spatial Implementation Plan for the Zenne Valley, mainly in village centres. This focuses on areas where housing demand is high and where social housing fits naturally into the community. Another key rule protects first-time buyers. People purchasing their first and only home cannot be overtaken by the municipality or Woonpunt Zennevallei.
Other cities and regions have used similar systems to support affordable housing. In Brussels, a law introduced in January 2025 gives tenants the right to buy their home before it is sold to others. This helps tenants stay in their homes and keeps housing prices fair. Cities like Montreal and Berlin also use the right of first refusal to protect affordable housing.
In Montreal, the city can buy properties before they reach the open market to increase social housing. Berlin uses the system to prevent residents from being displaced and to keep rents affordable.
