{"id":598,"date":"2026-10-25T13:44:12","date_gmt":"2026-10-25T12:44:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.bureaubuitenland.be\/knowledge-base\/private-detective-or-investigation-agency\/"},"modified":"2026-11-03T23:34:51","modified_gmt":"2026-11-03T22:34:51","slug":"private-detective-or-investigation-agency","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.bureaubuitenland.be\/en\/knowledge-base\/private-detective-or-investigation-agency\/","title":{"rendered":"Private detective or investigation agency via lawyers: the difference"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><section class=\"bb-sectie bb-artikelkop bb-artikelkop--beeld\" id=\"artikelkop\" data-bg=\"primary\" style=\"--bb-ak-img:url(https:\/\/www.bureaubuitenland.be\/wp-content\/uploads\/bb\/kb-detective.webp)\"><div class=\"bb-container bb-artikelkop__inhoud\"><p class=\"bb-kicker\">KNOWLEDGE BASE \u00b7 HOW WE WORK<\/p><h1>Private detective or investigation agency via lawyers: the difference<\/h1><p class=\"bb-artikelkop__meta\">Reading time 6 minutes \u00b7 updated October 2026<\/p><div class=\"bb-artikelkop__kort\"><p class=\"bb-kicker\">In brief<\/p><\/p>\n<p>Anyone who suspects ownership of property abroad sometimes thinks of a private detective. That is a different profession from what we do. A private detective observes persons in Belgium; we consult property registers abroad through lawyers who are competent there. This article explains the difference and helps you choose which route suits your case.<\/p>\n<p><\/div><\/div><\/section><nav class=\"bb-breadcrumb\" aria-label=\"Breadcrumb\"><div class=\"bb-container\"><ol><li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.bureaubuitenland.be\/en\/\">Home<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.bureaubuitenland.be\/en\/knowledge-base\/\">Knowledge base<\/a><\/li><li><span aria-current=\"page\">Private detective or investigation agency via lawyers: the difference<\/span><\/li><\/ol><\/div><\/nav><section class=\"bb-sectie bb-kolommen\" id=\"inhoud\" data-bg=\"paper\"><div class=\"bb-container\"><div class=\"bb-kolommen__grid\"><div class=\"bb-kolom bb-kolom--hoofd\"><section class=\"bb-sectie bb-sectie--tekst\" id=\"wat-een-privedetective-mag\" data-bg=\"paper\"><div class=\"bb-container\"><h2>What a private detective may do<\/h2><div class=\"bb-tekst\"><\/p>\n<p>The profession of private detective is regulated in Belgium by the wet van 19 juli 1991 tot regeling van het beroep van priv\u00e9detective (Act of 19 July 1991 regulating the profession of private detective). A detective needs a licence from the FOD Binnenlandse Zaken (FPS Home Affairs) and may collect information about persons on behalf of a client: observing, tailing, interviewing witnesses, consulting public sources. The Act imposes strict limits: no investigation into political or religious conviction, health or sexual orientation, no intrusion into the home, and mandatory reporting to the commissioning party.<\/p>\n<p>Two limitations are decisive for public centres for social welfare (OCMWs) and housing companies. The Belgian licence applies in Belgium; abroad, a Belgian detective has no authority and no access to registers. And observation is a serious interference with private life, which for a public-sector client is quickly considered disproportionate if a less intrusive means exists.<\/p>\n<p><\/div><\/div><\/section><section class=\"bb-sectie bb-sectie--tekst\" id=\"wat-wij-doen\" data-bg=\"paper\"><div class=\"bb-container\"><h2>What we do<\/h2><div class=\"bb-tekst\"><\/p>\n<p>Bureaubuitenland Belgi\u00eb is not a private detective and observes no one. We answer one question: is there real estate registered in the name of the person concerned in the country of investigation, and if so, what exactly? We do this by having the property registers of that country consulted by a lawyer who is registered and competent there, in accordance with the law of that country.<\/p>\n<p>The result is a register entry: an extract showing the date, plot, owner, method of acquisition and co-owners, where necessary with the underlying deeds, a sworn translation and a valuation by a local appraiser. We do not investigate the behaviour, contacts or stay of the person concerned. How this works step by step is described under <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bureaubuitenland.be\/en\/how-we-work\/\">how we work<\/a>. Read more <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bureaubuitenland.be\/en\/about-us\/\">about Bureaubuitenland Belgi\u00eb<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p><\/div><\/div><\/section><section class=\"bb-sectie bb-sectie--tekst\" id=\"rechtmatigheid-en-bewijskracht\" data-bg=\"paper\"><div class=\"bb-container\"><h2>Lawfulness and evidentiary value<\/h2><div class=\"bb-tekst\"><\/p>\n<p>The two routes differ in what they deliver before a court.<\/p>\n<p>An observation report describes what a detective has seen: a person entering a home, a car in front of a door. That says nothing about ownership. The person concerned may be staying there as a guest, renting or visiting family. Moreover, observation abroad by a Belgian detective is not permitted, and a report on it would itself be unlawful.<\/p>\n<p>A register extract describes who is the owner according to the official register. That is precisely the fact that counts for the property ownership condition and the means test. In specific cases, such as Hamme (2019), Antwerp (2020, on appeal) and the Woonhaven case, the Belgian courts took these investigative findings into account and rejected the defences based on privacy and anti-discrimination; see <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bureaubuitenland.be\/en\/knowledge-base\/belgian-courts-foreign-property-investigation\/\">what the Belgian courts say<\/a>. Each ruling relates to a specific case and offers no guarantee for the outcome of another case. Because the investigation remains limited to ownership in a person&#8217;s name, it is also the least intrusive means: that is what the GDPR and the courts expect of a public-sector client.<\/p>\n<p><\/div><\/div><\/section><section class=\"bb-sectie bb-sectie--tekst\" id=\"avg\" data-bg=\"paper\"><div class=\"bb-container\"><h2>What the GDPR says about this<\/h2><div class=\"bb-tekst\"><\/p>\n<p>For an OCMW or housing company, any investigation into a person is a processing of personal data. The GDPR then requires a legal basis, a clear purpose and no more data than necessary. Observation by a detective produces a great deal of data about the daily life of the person concerned and of third parties, such as family members and visitors; this is at odds with data minimisation. Register investigation produces one piece of data that fits the purpose precisely: the ownership situation.<\/p>\n<p>At Bureaubuitenland you are the controller and we are the processor. We conclude a data processing agreement with every commissioning party, receive case data exclusively via a secure channel and pass on to our lawyer in the country of investigation only what is needed for the consultation: name, date of birth and the region. We do not process special categories of data, such as health or conviction. You can read more about this in our <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bureaubuitenland.be\/en\/privacy-statement\/\">privacy statement<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p><\/div><\/div><\/section><section class=\"bb-sectie bb-sectie--tekst\" id=\"kosten-en-doorlooptijd\" data-bg=\"paper\"><div class=\"bb-container\"><h2>Costs and lead time<\/h2><div class=\"bb-tekst\"><\/p>\n<p>Observation is paid per hour and only yields something after days or weeks, without certainty. Register investigation is clearly delimited. At Bureaubuitenland the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bureaubuitenland.be\/en\/services\/pre-check\/\">pre-check<\/a> is usually completed within 1 to 2 weeks; a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bureaubuitenland.be\/en\/services\/full-investigation\/\">full in-depth investigation<\/a> usually takes 2 to 4 weeks and is estimated in advance per case. For investigations within the Flemish <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bureaubuitenland.be\/en\/knowledge-base\/framework-agreement\/\">framework agreement<\/a>, housing companies have the costs reimbursed in full or for the most part; no such scheme exists for observation.<\/p>\n<p><\/div><\/div><\/section><section class=\"bb-sectie bb-sectie--tekst\" id=\"welke-route\" data-bg=\"paper\"><div class=\"bb-container\"><h2>Which route suits an OCMW or housing company<\/h2><div class=\"bb-tekst\"><\/p>\n<p>The choice follows from the question you want answered.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Does the person concerned really live at the stated address, or do they live with someone?<\/strong> That is a domicile question. You answer it in Belgium, with home visits, consumption data and the neighbourhood police officer; in exceptional cases with a licensed detective. See <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bureaubuitenland.be\/en\/knowledge-base\/domicile-fraud-versus-property-fraud\/\">domicile fraud versus property fraud<\/a>.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Does the person concerned own real estate abroad?<\/strong> That is an ownership question. You answer it with register investigation via local lawyers, never with observation.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Both?<\/strong> Then you combine a domicile investigation in Belgium with a property investigation abroad. The absence established in the domicile investigation is often the concrete suspicion that justifies the property investigation.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>In case of doubt, a pre-check helps you decide: usually within 1 to 2 weeks you have an initial picture of what is registered in the person&#8217;s name and whether further investigation is worthwhile.<\/p>\n<p><em>Sources: Act of 19 July 1991 regulating the profession of private detective, see <a href=\"https:\/\/www.besafe.be\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">FOD Binnenlandse Zaken, Veiligheid en Preventie (FPS Home Affairs, Safety and Prevention)<\/a>; <a href=\"https:\/\/www.vrt.be\/vrtnws\/nl\/2019\/06\/18\/vrederechter-geeft-sociale-woningmaatschappij-gelijk-die-sociale\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">VRT NWS, 18 June 2019<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n<p><\/div><\/div><\/section><\/div><div class=\"bb-kolom bb-kolom--zij\"><aside class=\"bb-kaart bb-ihk\" id=\"in-het-kort\"><p class=\"bb-kicker\">Overview<\/p><h2 class=\"bb-ihk__kop\">In brief<\/h2><dl class=\"bb-ihk__lijst\"><div><dt>Lead time<\/dt><dd>usually 1\u20132 weeks<\/dd><\/div><\/dl><p class=\"bb-ihk__knop\"><a class=\"bb-knop\" href=\"\/en\/request-a-pre-check\/\">Request a pre-check<\/a><\/p><ul class=\"bb-ihk__trust\"><li><span class=\"bb-icoon material-symbols-outlined\" aria-hidden=\"true\">check_circle<\/span><span>Carried out in accordance with the GDPR<\/span><\/li><\/ul><\/aside><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/section><section class=\"bb-sectie bb-sectie--panel bb-faq-sectie\" id=\"faq\" data-bg=\"panel\"><div class=\"bb-container\"><h2>Frequently asked questions<\/h2><div class=\"bb-faq\"><div class=\"bb-faq__item\"><h3 class=\"bb-faq__vraag\"><button type=\"button\" aria-expanded=\"true\" aria-controls=\"faq-faq-0\" id=\"faq-faq-0-knop\">Does Bureaubuitenland have a detective licence?<span class=\"bb-faq__icoon\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/span><\/button><\/h3><div class=\"bb-faq__antwoord\" id=\"faq-faq-0\" role=\"region\" aria-labelledby=\"faq-faq-0-knop\"><p>No, and none is needed for our work: we observe no one and collect no information about persons in Belgium. We have property registers abroad consulted by lawyers who are competent there.<\/p><\/div><\/div><div class=\"bb-faq__item\"><h3 class=\"bb-faq__vraag\"><button type=\"button\" aria-expanded=\"false\" aria-controls=\"faq-faq-1\" id=\"faq-faq-1-knop\">May an OCMW engage a private detective?<span class=\"bb-faq__icoon\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/span><\/button><\/h3><div class=\"bb-faq__antwoord\" id=\"faq-faq-1\" role=\"region\" aria-labelledby=\"faq-faq-1-knop\" hidden><p>In principle, an OCMW may engage a licensed detective to establish facts in Belgium, but must act proportionately. For property abroad, a detective has no authority and register investigation is the appropriate and least intrusive means.<\/p><\/div><\/div><div class=\"bb-faq__item\"><h3 class=\"bb-faq__vraag\"><button type=\"button\" aria-expanded=\"false\" aria-controls=\"faq-faq-2\" id=\"faq-faq-2-knop\">What if the person concerned sees the investigation as a breach of their privacy?<span class=\"bb-faq__icoon\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/span><\/button><\/h3><div class=\"bb-faq__antwoord\" id=\"faq-faq-2\" role=\"region\" aria-labelledby=\"faq-faq-2-knop\" hidden><p>In the Belgian cases discussed, that defence was rejected, because the investigation remained limited to real estate in the person's name and the person concerned had declared that their declaration would be verified. Each case is nevertheless assessed on its own facts. We structure every investigation so that this limit is respected.<\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/section><section class=\"bb-sectie bb-kaarten bb-kaarten--kb\" id=\"gerelateerd\" data-bg=\"paper\"><div class=\"bb-container\"><h2>See also<\/h2><div class=\"bb-grid-3\"><article class=\"bb-kaart bb-kaart--kb\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"bb-kaart__beeld\" src=\"https:\/\/www.bureaubuitenland.be\/wp-content\/uploads\/bb\/werkwijze-768x429.webp\" alt=\"How we work\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"640\" height=\"360\"><h3 class=\"bb-kaart__titel\">How we work<\/h3><p class=\"bb-kaart__tekst\">Our approach in five steps: intake, quotation, pre-check, full investigation and aftercare. You know the costs and the expected lead time in advance.<\/p><a class=\"bb-knop bb-knop--tertiair\" href=\"https:\/\/www.bureaubuitenland.be\/en\/how-we-work\/\">Read more <span aria-hidden=\"true\">\u2192<\/span><\/a><\/article><article class=\"bb-kaart bb-kaart--kb\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"bb-kaart__beeld\" src=\"https:\/\/www.bureaubuitenland.be\/wp-content\/uploads\/bb\/pre-check-768x429.webp\" alt=\"Pre-check\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"640\" height=\"360\"><h3 class=\"bb-kaart__titel\">Pre-check<\/h3><p class=\"bb-kaart__tekst\">Pre-check: an initial investigation into real estate abroad in the name of the person concerned. Usually 1 to 2 weeks, quotation in advance.<\/p><a class=\"bb-knop bb-knop--tertiair\" href=\"https:\/\/www.bureaubuitenland.be\/en\/services\/pre-check\/\">Read more <span aria-hidden=\"true\">\u2192<\/span><\/a><\/article><article class=\"bb-kaart bb-kaart--kb\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"bb-kaart__beeld\" src=\"https:\/\/www.bureaubuitenland.be\/wp-content\/uploads\/bb\/ocmw-768x429.webp\" alt=\"For OCMWs\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"640\" height=\"360\"><h3 class=\"bb-kaart__titel\">For OCMWs<\/h3><p class=\"bb-kaart__tekst\">Asset investigation for OCMWs: is real estate abroad relevant to a living wage file? Investigation via local lawyers, in 45 countries.<\/p><a class=\"bb-knop bb-knop--tertiair\" href=\"https:\/\/www.bureaubuitenland.be\/en\/services\/for-public-social-welfare-centres\/\">Read more <span aria-hidden=\"true\">\u2192<\/span><\/a><\/article><\/div><\/div><\/section><section class=\"bb-sectie bb-cta bb-cta--beeld\" id=\"cta\" data-bg=\"primary\" style=\"--bb-cta-img:url(https:\/\/www.bureaubuitenland.be\/wp-content\/uploads\/bb\/cta-band.webp)\"><div class=\"bb-container bb-cta__inhoud\"><h2 class=\"bb-cta__kop\">Discuss your case<\/h2><p class=\"bb-cta__tekst\">Do you have a question about real estate abroad? We are happy to discuss which service suits your case. You receive clarity in advance about the assignment, the lead time and the costs.<\/p><p class=\"bb-cta__knop\"><a class=\"bb-knop bb-knop--invers\" href=\"https:\/\/www.bureaubuitenland.be\/en\/contact\/\">Discuss your case<\/a><\/p><p class=\"bb-cta__contact\"><a href=\"tel:+31851110123\">+31 (0)85 111 01 23<\/a><span aria-hidden=\"true\"> \u00b7 <\/span><a href=\"mailto:info@bureaubuitenland.be\">info@bureaubuitenland.be<\/a><\/p><\/div><\/section><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"","protected":false},"author":0,"featured_media":93,"parent":586,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-598","page","type-page","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail"],"bb_rendered":"<section class=\"bb-sectie bb-artikelkop bb-artikelkop--beeld\" id=\"artikelkop\" data-bg=\"primary\" style=\"--bb-ak-img:url(https:\/\/www.bureaubuitenland.be\/wp-content\/uploads\/bb\/kb-detective.webp)\"><div class=\"bb-container bb-artikelkop__inhoud\"><p class=\"bb-kicker\">KNOWLEDGE BASE \u00b7 HOW WE WORK<\/p><h1>Private detective or investigation agency via lawyers: the difference<\/h1><p class=\"bb-artikelkop__meta\">Reading time 6 minutes \u00b7 updated October 2026<\/p><div class=\"bb-artikelkop__kort\"><p class=\"bb-kicker\">In brief<\/p><p>Anyone who suspects ownership of property abroad sometimes thinks of a private detective. That is a different profession from what we do. A private detective observes persons in Belgium; we consult property registers abroad through lawyers who are competent there. This article explains the difference and helps you choose which route suits your case.<\/p><\/div><\/div><\/section><nav class=\"bb-breadcrumb\" aria-label=\"Breadcrumb\"><div class=\"bb-container\"><ol><li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.bureaubuitenland.be\/en\/\">Home<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.bureaubuitenland.be\/en\/knowledge-base\/\">Knowledge base<\/a><\/li><li><span aria-current=\"page\">Private detective or investigation agency via lawyers: the difference<\/span><\/li><\/ol><\/div><\/nav><section class=\"bb-sectie bb-kolommen\" id=\"inhoud\" data-bg=\"paper\"><div class=\"bb-container\"><div class=\"bb-kolommen__grid\"><div class=\"bb-kolom bb-kolom--hoofd\"><section class=\"bb-sectie bb-sectie--tekst\" id=\"wat-een-privedetective-mag\" data-bg=\"paper\"><div class=\"bb-container\"><h2>What a private detective may do<\/h2><div class=\"bb-tekst\"><p>The profession of private detective is regulated in Belgium by the wet van 19 juli 1991 tot regeling van het beroep van priv\u00e9detective (Act of 19 July 1991 regulating the profession of private detective). A detective needs a licence from the FOD Binnenlandse Zaken (FPS Home Affairs) and may collect information about persons on behalf of a client: observing, tailing, interviewing witnesses, consulting public sources. The Act imposes strict limits: no investigation into political or religious conviction, health or sexual orientation, no intrusion into the home, and mandatory reporting to the commissioning party.<\/p>\n<p>Two limitations are decisive for public centres for social welfare (OCMWs) and housing companies. The Belgian licence applies in Belgium; abroad, a Belgian detective has no authority and no access to registers. And observation is a serious interference with private life, which for a public-sector client is quickly considered disproportionate if a less intrusive means exists.<\/p><\/div><\/div><\/section><section class=\"bb-sectie bb-sectie--tekst\" id=\"wat-wij-doen\" data-bg=\"paper\"><div class=\"bb-container\"><h2>What we do<\/h2><div class=\"bb-tekst\"><p>Bureaubuitenland Belgi\u00eb is not a private detective and observes no one. We answer one question: is there real estate registered in the name of the person concerned in the country of investigation, and if so, what exactly? We do this by having the property registers of that country consulted by a lawyer who is registered and competent there, in accordance with the law of that country.<\/p>\n<p>The result is a register entry: an extract showing the date, plot, owner, method of acquisition and co-owners, where necessary with the underlying deeds, a sworn translation and a valuation by a local appraiser. We do not investigate the behaviour, contacts or stay of the person concerned. How this works step by step is described under <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bureaubuitenland.be\/en\/how-we-work\/\">how we work<\/a>. Read more <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bureaubuitenland.be\/en\/about-us\/\">about Bureaubuitenland Belgi\u00eb<\/a>.<\/p><\/div><\/div><\/section><section class=\"bb-sectie bb-sectie--tekst\" id=\"rechtmatigheid-en-bewijskracht\" data-bg=\"paper\"><div class=\"bb-container\"><h2>Lawfulness and evidentiary value<\/h2><div class=\"bb-tekst\"><p>The two routes differ in what they deliver before a court.<\/p>\n<p>An observation report describes what a detective has seen: a person entering a home, a car in front of a door. That says nothing about ownership. The person concerned may be staying there as a guest, renting or visiting family. Moreover, observation abroad by a Belgian detective is not permitted, and a report on it would itself be unlawful.<\/p>\n<p>A register extract describes who is the owner according to the official register. That is precisely the fact that counts for the property ownership condition and the means test. In specific cases, such as Hamme (2019), Antwerp (2020, on appeal) and the Woonhaven case, the Belgian courts took these investigative findings into account and rejected the defences based on privacy and anti-discrimination; see <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bureaubuitenland.be\/en\/knowledge-base\/belgian-courts-foreign-property-investigation\/\">what the Belgian courts say<\/a>. Each ruling relates to a specific case and offers no guarantee for the outcome of another case. Because the investigation remains limited to ownership in a person's name, it is also the least intrusive means: that is what the GDPR and the courts expect of a public-sector client.<\/p><\/div><\/div><\/section><section class=\"bb-sectie bb-sectie--tekst\" id=\"avg\" data-bg=\"paper\"><div class=\"bb-container\"><h2>What the GDPR says about this<\/h2><div class=\"bb-tekst\"><p>For an OCMW or housing company, any investigation into a person is a processing of personal data. The GDPR then requires a legal basis, a clear purpose and no more data than necessary. Observation by a detective produces a great deal of data about the daily life of the person concerned and of third parties, such as family members and visitors; this is at odds with data minimisation. Register investigation produces one piece of data that fits the purpose precisely: the ownership situation.<\/p>\n<p>At Bureaubuitenland you are the controller and we are the processor. We conclude a data processing agreement with every commissioning party, receive case data exclusively via a secure channel and pass on to our lawyer in the country of investigation only what is needed for the consultation: name, date of birth and the region. We do not process special categories of data, such as health or conviction. You can read more about this in our <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bureaubuitenland.be\/en\/privacy-statement\/\">privacy statement<\/a>.<\/p><\/div><\/div><\/section><section class=\"bb-sectie bb-sectie--tekst\" id=\"kosten-en-doorlooptijd\" data-bg=\"paper\"><div class=\"bb-container\"><h2>Costs and lead time<\/h2><div class=\"bb-tekst\"><p>Observation is paid per hour and only yields something after days or weeks, without certainty. Register investigation is clearly delimited. At Bureaubuitenland the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bureaubuitenland.be\/en\/services\/pre-check\/\">pre-check<\/a> is usually completed within 1 to 2 weeks; a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bureaubuitenland.be\/en\/services\/full-investigation\/\">full in-depth investigation<\/a> usually takes 2 to 4 weeks and is estimated in advance per case. For investigations within the Flemish <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bureaubuitenland.be\/en\/knowledge-base\/framework-agreement\/\">framework agreement<\/a>, housing companies have the costs reimbursed in full or for the most part; no such scheme exists for observation.<\/p><\/div><\/div><\/section><section class=\"bb-sectie bb-sectie--tekst\" id=\"welke-route\" data-bg=\"paper\"><div class=\"bb-container\"><h2>Which route suits an OCMW or housing company<\/h2><div class=\"bb-tekst\"><p>The choice follows from the question you want answered.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Does the person concerned really live at the stated address, or do they live with someone?<\/strong> That is a domicile question. You answer it in Belgium, with home visits, consumption data and the neighbourhood police officer; in exceptional cases with a licensed detective. See <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bureaubuitenland.be\/en\/knowledge-base\/domicile-fraud-versus-property-fraud\/\">domicile fraud versus property fraud<\/a>.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Does the person concerned own real estate abroad?<\/strong> That is an ownership question. You answer it with register investigation via local lawyers, never with observation.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Both?<\/strong> Then you combine a domicile investigation in Belgium with a property investigation abroad. The absence established in the domicile investigation is often the concrete suspicion that justifies the property investigation.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>In case of doubt, a pre-check helps you decide: usually within 1 to 2 weeks you have an initial picture of what is registered in the person's name and whether further investigation is worthwhile.<\/p>\n<p><em>Sources: Act of 19 July 1991 regulating the profession of private detective, see <a href=\"https:\/\/www.besafe.be\/\">FOD Binnenlandse Zaken, Veiligheid en Preventie (FPS Home Affairs, Safety and Prevention)<\/a>; <a href=\"https:\/\/www.vrt.be\/vrtnws\/nl\/2019\/06\/18\/vrederechter-geeft-sociale-woningmaatschappij-gelijk-die-sociale\/\">VRT NWS, 18 June 2019<\/a>.<\/em><\/p><\/div><\/div><\/section><\/div><div class=\"bb-kolom bb-kolom--zij\"><aside class=\"bb-kaart bb-ihk\" id=\"in-het-kort\"><p class=\"bb-kicker\">Overview<\/p><h2 class=\"bb-ihk__kop\">In brief<\/h2><dl class=\"bb-ihk__lijst\"><div><dt>Lead time<\/dt><dd>usually 1\u20132 weeks<\/dd><\/div><\/dl><p class=\"bb-ihk__knop\"><a class=\"bb-knop\" href=\"\/en\/request-a-pre-check\/\">Request a pre-check<\/a><\/p><ul class=\"bb-ihk__trust\"><li><span class=\"bb-icoon material-symbols-outlined\" aria-hidden=\"true\">check_circle<\/span><span>Carried out in accordance with the GDPR<\/span><\/li><\/ul><\/aside><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/section><section class=\"bb-sectie bb-sectie--panel bb-faq-sectie\" id=\"faq\" data-bg=\"panel\"><div class=\"bb-container\"><h2>Frequently asked questions<\/h2><div class=\"bb-faq\"><div class=\"bb-faq__item\"><h3 class=\"bb-faq__vraag\"><button type=\"button\" aria-expanded=\"true\" aria-controls=\"faq-faq-0\" id=\"faq-faq-0-knop\">Does Bureaubuitenland have a detective licence?<span class=\"bb-faq__icoon\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/span><\/button><\/h3><div class=\"bb-faq__antwoord\" id=\"faq-faq-0\" role=\"region\" aria-labelledby=\"faq-faq-0-knop\"><p>No, and none is needed for our work: we observe no one and collect no information about persons in Belgium. We have property registers abroad consulted by lawyers who are competent there.<\/p><\/div><\/div><div class=\"bb-faq__item\"><h3 class=\"bb-faq__vraag\"><button type=\"button\" aria-expanded=\"false\" aria-controls=\"faq-faq-1\" id=\"faq-faq-1-knop\">May an OCMW engage a private detective?<span class=\"bb-faq__icoon\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/span><\/button><\/h3><div class=\"bb-faq__antwoord\" id=\"faq-faq-1\" role=\"region\" aria-labelledby=\"faq-faq-1-knop\" hidden><p>In principle, an OCMW may engage a licensed detective to establish facts in Belgium, but must act proportionately. For property abroad, a detective has no authority and register investigation is the appropriate and least intrusive means.<\/p><\/div><\/div><div class=\"bb-faq__item\"><h3 class=\"bb-faq__vraag\"><button type=\"button\" aria-expanded=\"false\" aria-controls=\"faq-faq-2\" id=\"faq-faq-2-knop\">What if the person concerned sees the investigation as a breach of their privacy?<span class=\"bb-faq__icoon\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/span><\/button><\/h3><div class=\"bb-faq__antwoord\" id=\"faq-faq-2\" role=\"region\" aria-labelledby=\"faq-faq-2-knop\" hidden><p>In the Belgian cases discussed, that defence was rejected, because the investigation remained limited to real estate in the person's name and the person concerned had declared that their declaration would be verified. Each case is nevertheless assessed on its own facts. We structure every investigation so that this limit is respected.<\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/section><section class=\"bb-sectie bb-kaarten bb-kaarten--kb\" id=\"gerelateerd\" data-bg=\"paper\"><div class=\"bb-container\"><h2>See also<\/h2><div class=\"bb-grid-3\"><article class=\"bb-kaart bb-kaart--kb\"><img class=\"bb-kaart__beeld\" src=\"https:\/\/www.bureaubuitenland.be\/wp-content\/uploads\/bb\/werkwijze-768x429.webp\" alt=\"How we work\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"640\" height=\"360\"><h3 class=\"bb-kaart__titel\">How we work<\/h3><p class=\"bb-kaart__tekst\">Our approach in five steps: intake, quotation, pre-check, full investigation and aftercare. You know the costs and the expected lead time in advance.<\/p><a class=\"bb-knop bb-knop--tertiair\" href=\"https:\/\/www.bureaubuitenland.be\/en\/how-we-work\/\">Read more <span aria-hidden=\"true\">\u2192<\/span><\/a><\/article><article class=\"bb-kaart bb-kaart--kb\"><img class=\"bb-kaart__beeld\" src=\"https:\/\/www.bureaubuitenland.be\/wp-content\/uploads\/bb\/pre-check-768x429.webp\" alt=\"Pre-check\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"640\" height=\"360\"><h3 class=\"bb-kaart__titel\">Pre-check<\/h3><p class=\"bb-kaart__tekst\">Pre-check: an initial investigation into real estate abroad in the name of the person concerned. Usually 1 to 2 weeks, quotation in advance.<\/p><a class=\"bb-knop bb-knop--tertiair\" href=\"https:\/\/www.bureaubuitenland.be\/en\/services\/pre-check\/\">Read more <span aria-hidden=\"true\">\u2192<\/span><\/a><\/article><article class=\"bb-kaart bb-kaart--kb\"><img class=\"bb-kaart__beeld\" src=\"https:\/\/www.bureaubuitenland.be\/wp-content\/uploads\/bb\/ocmw-768x429.webp\" alt=\"For OCMWs\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"640\" height=\"360\"><h3 class=\"bb-kaart__titel\">For OCMWs<\/h3><p class=\"bb-kaart__tekst\">Asset investigation for OCMWs: is real estate abroad relevant to a living wage file? Investigation via local lawyers, in 45 countries.<\/p><a class=\"bb-knop bb-knop--tertiair\" href=\"https:\/\/www.bureaubuitenland.be\/en\/services\/for-public-social-welfare-centres\/\">Read more <span aria-hidden=\"true\">\u2192<\/span><\/a><\/article><\/div><\/div><\/section><section class=\"bb-sectie bb-cta bb-cta--beeld\" id=\"cta\" data-bg=\"primary\" style=\"--bb-cta-img:url(https:\/\/www.bureaubuitenland.be\/wp-content\/uploads\/bb\/cta-band.webp)\"><div class=\"bb-container bb-cta__inhoud\"><h2 class=\"bb-cta__kop\">Discuss your case<\/h2><p class=\"bb-cta__tekst\">Do you have a question about real estate abroad? We are happy to discuss which service suits your case. You receive clarity in advance about the assignment, the lead time and the costs.<\/p><p class=\"bb-cta__knop\"><a class=\"bb-knop bb-knop--invers\" href=\"https:\/\/www.bureaubuitenland.be\/en\/contact\/\">Discuss your case<\/a><\/p><p class=\"bb-cta__contact\"><a href=\"tel:+31851110123\">+31 (0)85 111 01 23<\/a><span aria-hidden=\"true\"> \u00b7 <\/span><a href=\"mailto:info@bureaubuitenland.be\">info@bureaubuitenland.be<\/a><\/p><\/div><\/section>\n","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bureaubuitenland.be\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/598","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bureaubuitenland.be\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bureaubuitenland.be\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bureaubuitenland.be\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=598"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/www.bureaubuitenland.be\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/598\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2890,"href":"https:\/\/www.bureaubuitenland.be\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/598\/revisions\/2890"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bureaubuitenland.be\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/586"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bureaubuitenland.be\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/93"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bureaubuitenland.be\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=598"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}