The United States of America has always been the favourite destination of the Indian IT professional. But the recent slowdown in the U.S economy has got the Indian job seeker to move into newer markets in Europe.

GERMANY • UNITED KINGDOM • ITALY • IRELAND

BELGIUM

Accommodation: unfurnished • furnished • studio apartments • additional charges • extra housing costs

Rental prices depend on a number of factors like

• Size of the accommodation
• Type of accommodation
• Location of accommodation
• Facilities in accommodation
• The urgency of the need to let
• Market situation, as in supply/demand
• Length of time property is available

In Belgium, accommodation is found in communes. Some of these communes are distinctly more expensive than others for reasons, which range from the "chique" to the presence of green parks. Communes in the south and east such as, Uccle, Watermael-Boitsfort, Auderghem, Woluwé St Pierre and Woluwé St Lambert that are close to forest of Soignes are the residential areas. Communes like Anderlecht, Berchem Saint Agathe and Ganshoren have retained aspects of urban villages and open rural areas.

Housing rent differ from one city to another. We have concentrated on accommodation prices in the capital city of Belgium, Brussels. Accommodations in and around Brussels are mostly rented unfurnished.

Accommodation - Unfurnished accommodation (Prices in 1000 BGF/MONTH)

Apartments in the 'low' range come without garage, terrace and fully fitted kitchen equipment. The locality of such apartments are in less attractive areas. The 'standard range' comes with a garage or a fully equipped kitchen or a terrace. Apartments in the 'good' bracket are located in good residential areas and include terrace, garage and an equipped kitchen. The 'excellent' range includes spacious rooms, large terraces, modern kitchen and several bathrooms. These apartments are located in areas from where the city, workplace and shops can be easily accessed.

Market for furnished accommodation is extremely tight in terms of availability.

Accommodation - Furnished accommodation

Prices of furnished accommodation are at least 10,000-15000 BEF more than its unfurnished counterpart. In addition, the quality, taste, style and age of furnishing provided are also counted.
Studio/ flat: 40,000-45,000 BEF/month
1 bedroom: 50,000-60,000 BEF/month
2 bedrooms: 60,000+ BEF/month

Accommodation - Studio apartments

Studio apartments are ideal for young executives, students, young married couple and bachelors. Rent is far less for studio apartments.
1 bedroom: 1500-2500BEF/month
2 bedrooms: 3000-4500BEF/month
3 bedrooms 4000-6500 BEF/month

Accommodation - Additional charges

Monthly fees are charged separately. They cover payments for caretaker, maintenance of garden and lifts, electricity, water and insurance for the communal parts. Sometimes they also include provisions for private consumption of cold water, hot water or heating. Electricity, cable television and telephone are usually not included. Generally, the higher the rental prices, the higher the charges.

Accommodation - Extra housing costs

Apart from your monthly rent you may have to look into the following-

The market conditions dominate rent prices. Usually in summer months, in-between school terms, families relocate. As a result prices are pushed up during this time. Choices during this period are much higher, but your decision-taking time to shift in is much less.

Transportation: Rail • Road • Tram, Metro and Bus • Taxis

Transportation - Rail

Tickets are available on a daily, weekly, monthly, 3 monthly and yearly basis, price decreases according to its length and validity. Young, old, families and groups travel at a special rate.
Signs:
(L) Stopping at all stations
(IC) intercity
(IR) Inter-regional, stopping at selected stations
(P) Peak hour trains: stopping at specific stations, frequent train service between Gare Centrale, Gare du Nord and the Brussels, Airport, journey of 20 min.

Transportation - Road

A few do's and don'ts

• Do not drive with parking lights on
• Bad weather or night driving, keep you dipped headlight on
• Do not park in front of garage and entrance, you can be fined anywhere between 1500-3500 BEF
• Keep fire extinguisher, first aid box, rear fog lamp
• Rear seat belts is a must
• Tires must be at least 1mm wide
• Always carry ID papers, driving license, car registration and insurance papers

Transportation - Trams, Metro and buses

• Trams take priority at all times
• Give way to buses moving away from the bus stand
• Two metro lines are available, single ticket 50 BEF, ten journeys cost 330 BEF

Transportation - Taxis

Should be avoided as much as possible, it's considered amongst the most expensive in the world. Special taxis operate Brussels's airport.

Utilities: Electricity • Water • Telephone • Television

Utilities - Electricity

Two companies arrange power supplies.

• SIBELGAZ                              02/274 40 00 or 02/274 31 11
• ELECTRABEL                         02/549 46 00

ELECTRABEL serves the following communes: Auderghem/ Oudergem, Berchem-Ste-Agathe/ St-Agatha-Berchem, Etterbeek, Forest/ Vorst, Koekel-berg, Molenbeek-St-Jean/ St-Jans-Molenbeek, Uccle/ Ukkel, Watermael-Boitsfort/ Watermaal-Bosvoorde, Woluwe-St-Lambert/ St-Lambrechts-Woluwe and Woluwe-St-Pierre/ St-Pieters-Woluwe.

SIBELGAZ serves the city of Brussels (including Laeken/ Laken, Neder-over-Heembeek and Haren), Evere, Ganshoren, Jette, St-Gilles/St-Gillis, St-Josse/ St-Joost and Schaerbeek/Schaarbeek

Request for connection to the various services should be made to the competent company one week beforehand. Persons requesting service connections should present their identity cards. The company will notify applicants of the date of connection and the customer must be available on that date to allow the agent access to the premises and to sign for the connection on completion of the work. He may also arrange for someone with a photocopy of his identity card to represent him.

Certain communes require a document (issued by the commune authorities) certifying that you will be occupying the premises. For the communes Bruxelles-Ville/ Brussel-Stad (including Laeken/ Laken, Neder-over-Heembeek and Haren), Evere, Ixelles/ Elsene, Jette, Schaerbeek/ Schaarbeek, St-Gilles/ St-Gillis and St-Josse/ St-Joost, a Sibelgaz certificate must be delivered by the commune of residence. In order to obtain it, please visit your commune with a copy of your identity card and the rental contract. The Sibelgaz and Electrabel reception desks are at your disposal to provide detailed information.

Utilities - Water

Only one company - the I.B.D.E./B.I.W.M. (Intercommunale Bruxelloise de Distribution d'Eau / Brusselse Intercommunale Watermaatschappij) - rue aux Laines / Wolstraat 70 - 1000 Brussels - tel. 02/518 81 11 - is responsible for water supplies.

Please write a letter to the company mentioning the address of the premises, the name and date of entry of the new tenant and the meter reading at the time of entry. The letter must be signed by the new tenant and by the owner.

A visit by a company agent is necessary only if the meter has been shut off, i.e. in the case of a new building or a building, which has been unoccupied for a long period of time. The annual subscription is between 600 (±14,9 euro) and 1000 BEF (±24,8 euro), depending on the commune. Consumers are billed annually.

Utilities - Telephone

BELGACOM is the only company, which assures a connection to the network. As soon as you have got a netline you can choose a supplier. At the moment two companies provide services : BELGACOM and MOBISTAR. Other companies will soon provide very specific service for enterprises.

For a portable telephone or a GSM you can either choose MOBISTAR(http://www.mobistar.be) or PROXIMUS ( http://www.proximus.be). Application forms for telephone connection can be obtained in tele-boutiques. If you have not yet got a Belgian identity card, you can apply for a telephone line through the Brussels-Europe Liaison Office.

The cost of a telephone connection is:

• 2,662 BEF (± 66.1 euro) (VAT incl.) for the actual connection
• 1,114 BEF (± 27.6 euro) (VAT incl.) for basic two month's subscription fee
• 218 BEF (± 5.4 euro) (VAT incl.) for the standard telephone "Maestro" rental (two months); you can also purchase a telephone unit

Utilities - Television

The city has several cable distribution companies, each covering a certain area. Cable T.V. subscription costs approx. 4,500 BEF (±111.8 euro) a year and viewers receive nearly all-European channels (more than 30) in addition to the 9 Belgian channels (4 French- speaking and 5 Dutch-speaking) as well as the two local Brussels channels.

All users (even those without cable distribution) must pay a TV and radio fee, which is always billed separately from the cable distribution subscription charge. Regardless of the number of receivers, only one fee is billed to each household.

Domestic help:

If you need help in the home or some specific service, look on local notice boards at newsagents, in supermarkets and at grocers. Free-distribution advertising weeklies are another source. They are delivered automatically to all mailboxes, unless one posts a small notice kindly asking otherwise. In cities, tips are often given to postmen, dustmen and the concierge. For further information on the various domestic help available check living in Belgium

Education: official, independent, private • crèches, nurseries, day-care • level of education • language

A wide range of education systems is available in Belgium. Most of the schools teach in French or Dutch. There are also a number of English speaking schools following various national programmes or the syllabus of the International Baccalaureate which can be taken in several languages, including English and French (e.g.: St. Johns School, International School of Brussels, Lycée Français, British School).

Other foreign schools cover their own national systems like the Japanese, German, Scandinavian etc. All schools have to follow a minimum programme imposed by the state. There are two types of state aided schools-official and independent.

Education - official, independent, private

Education - Crèches, nurseries and day care mothers, organized by:

Communes-

• Age 3 months to 3 years
• Open 7 a.m to 6 p.m except national holidays
• Cost between 60 to 750 BEF, depending on income

Private crèches-

• Cost 20,000 BEF month full day
• Cost 10,000 BEF month half day
• Long waiting list, remember to book much in advance

Education - Level of education

Foreign schools:
These schools tend to be quite expensive; fees vary from 80.000 BEF for nurseries and kindergarten up to almost 600.000 BEF/child/year.

Education - Language

Language courses are taught at:

• Brussels Chamber of Commerce
• Ecole Technique Supérieure de l'Etat/Hoger Technische Staatsschool
• Institut de Formation de Cadres pour le Développement