The historic center of Bruxelles-Ville reveals an architectural range spanning from the 17th and 18th-century guild houses of the Grand-Place to the majestic Art Nouveau and Art Deco buildings that dot its boulevards.
Region: Région de Bruxelles-Capitale URL: https://cula.be/renovation/bruxelles-ville
In Bruxelles-Ville, CULA is your ally for transforming your property into a space combining tradition and modernity. We accompany you to bring your renovation projects to life with unmatched expertise and deep respect for the local heritage.
The City of Brussels is more than the Pentagon: it also includes Laeken, Haren and Neder-Over-Heembeek. You'll find narrow, deep Brussels townhouses, apartment buildings from the 19th and 20th centuries, former offices or warehouses converted into homes and, in places, protected buildings or buildings inside a heritage protection zone.
A large share of projects are apartments in old buildings: bringing the electrics up to standard, replacing pipework, a new bathroom, a kitchen opening onto the living room. In houses, you first deal with what can't be seen (damp, floors, roof), then insulation and finishes.
In the Pentagon and protected neighbourhoods, touching the façade, windows visible from the street or the roof requires, in principle, a planning permit, sometimes with the opinion of the heritage department (urban.brussels). Narrow streets also mean applying in advance for permission to occupy the public road for a skip or a lorry. The City also offers, depending on the period, municipal grants for certain façades: ask before you start.
In the City of Brussels we mostly renovate co-owned apartments and narrow town houses. For the projects we see most often here, expect in general: a full renovation of 80 m² (standard range): €102,000 to €127,000; a complete 5 m² bathroom (standard range): €12,000 to €16,000; a 8 m² fitted kitchen, installation included (standard range): €12,000 to €21,000. Amounts include 6% VAT (home over 10 years old), for a site in average condition. The exact price depends on the property's condition: we set it after the free visit.
The RENOLUTION grants will not return: the 2027 regional budget, agreed on 4 October 2026, plans zero-interest loans for energy renovation instead, expected in spring 2027. On obligations, every Brussels home will need an EPB certificate and must reach class E (275 kWh/m²/year) by 1 January 2033 at the latest. And since 1 June 2025, no oil boiler may be installed during works.
Do I need a permit to replace the windows of a building in the Pentagon?
Replacing like for like (same material, same design, same colour) is generally exempt from a permit. Changing the appearance of a façade visible from the street in principle needs a planning permit, plus the heritage department's opinion if the building is protected. We check this during the visit.
How long does an apartment renovation take?
A complete repaint usually takes 1 to 2 weeks and a total renovation 8 to 16 weeks, delivery times included. In a co-owned building, add the syndic's approval if the water or drain stacks are touched.
Does my Brussels apartment have to reach a minimum EPB class?
Yes: by 1 January 2033, every Brussels home must use at most 275 kWh/m²/year, which is class E. In a building, part of the work (roof, facade, shared heating) is decided by the co-owners' meeting, so start early.
CULA (CuLa Enterprise General) is a general renovation company founded by Tomasz Cutter, based in Dilbeek on the outskirts of Brussels. We operate throughout Belgium for residential and commercial renovation projects.