Repairs in Wallonia: build the file before allocating costs
An appliance breaks down in a rental home. Before charging the tenant, gather the facts, supporting records and reason for the intervention. A practical method for private residential tenancies in Wallonia.
The cause matters as much as the equipment
The official Walloon repairs list distinguishes major repairs and age-related deterioration, borne by the landlord, from minor upkeep borne by the tenant. It also requires tenants to report defects within a reasonable time. This framework concerns Wallonia; do not automatically apply its table in Brussels or Flanders. Separate the intervention that needs arranging from the evidence supporting a cost allocation. An invoice does not always explain why a component failed.
Start with a factual record
Record the property, equipment, reporting date and symptoms described. Keep the original message and request photographs if they clarify the situation. Write “tap leaking since 5 October” rather than “damage caused by tenant” when the cause has not been established. Record the apparent urgency separately from the contact who can provide access. Administrative tracking does not replace an appropriate intervention where safety is at risk.
Ask for a useful diagnosis
When contacting the professional, ask them to describe the fault and its cause insofar as these can be established. Keep their findings separate from either party’s assumptions. Fictional example: a leak leads to replacement of a mechanism. The entry “replacement” alone does not distinguish ageing, a defect or misuse. File the diagnosis, quotation and invoice under separate names. If the cause remains uncertain, mark the allocation of costs as requiring review.
Connect the records to the tenancy
Retrieve the inventory report, equipment details and previous interventions from the rental file. The indicative Walloon deterioration table is a reference to consider, not automatic proof of liability in every case. Keep the records together without turning an assumed age directly into an amount owed. If disagreement continues, seek an assessment based on the tenancy and facts before announcing a definitive conclusion.
Close the intervention without losing the financial question
After completion, record the date, outcome and documents received. Proprioo tasks can track the work while documents hold supporting records. Do not make filing an invoice dependent on an agreement already being reached over its allocation: these are different pieces of information. A repair can be complete while disputed costs still require separate follow-up. This filing method is an organisational suggestion, not an automatic legal decision feature of the software.
ComparImmo: placing expenses and works in the property file
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