Many households think a home helper paid with service vouchers (titres-services / dienstencheques) can do all their windows. That is partly true and partly false. This guide explains what the scheme actually allows for windows in Belgium, its limits, and when you need a regular window cleaning company instead. It describes the scheme, without commenting on any particular provider's status.
What the scheme covers for windows
Window cleaning is allowed under service vouchers, but as part of the general upkeep of the home, alongside routine housework. In practice, an approved worker can clean the reachable windows, inside and outside, within the safety limits of the scheme.
One voucher corresponds to one hour of work. It is bought for an amount in the order of ten euros, varying by Region, and gives rise to a tax benefit detailed below.
What the scheme does not cover
This is where the misunderstandings lie:
- It is not an exclusive service. Vouchers cover home upkeep; they are not meant for a company coming solely to clean windows as a standalone job.
- No work at height. For safety reasons, ladder use is restricted: you do not go beyond a few steps. High windows, unreachable glazing, conservatories with glass roofs or upper-floor façades fall outside the scope.
- Not for businesses. The scheme is reserved for private individuals; a shop, office or managed building cannot use it.
- No heavy restoration. Baked-on limescale, building-site splashes, specific treatments: these are technical jobs, not routine upkeep.
Who can use it
The scheme is reserved for private individuals — natural persons resident in Belgium. Each Region (Brussels, Flanders, Wallonia) runs its own system, its own issuing body and its own conditions, which change regularly.
The tax benefit depends on your Region
Part of the voucher's cost may give a right to a tax reduction or a regional benefit — but this depends on the Region, and the rules change. An important point to know: the Flemish Region removed the tax reduction for vouchers bought from 1 January 2025. Brussels and Wallonia apply their own arrangements. Always check the current conditions with your Region's authority before relying on a benefit.
Service vouchers or a cleaning company: how to choose
- Service vouchers suit reachable windows, at ground level, as part of the regular upkeep of a private home, when the time spent stays reasonable.
- A window cleaning company suits as soon as there is height, difficult access, a reset after a long period, post-construction cleaning, baked-on limescale, or a professional need (shop, office, shared building).
The two are not opposed: many households use vouchers for routine upkeep and call on a company for anything beyond that.
FAQ
Can a home helper clean all my windows? The reachable windows, yes, as part of home upkeep. Windows at height or hard to reach, no: the safety rules of the scheme forbid it.
Can a shop pay to clean its storefront with vouchers? No. The scheme is reserved for private individuals resident in Belgium, not for businesses.
Does the tax benefit still exist? It depends on your Region. Flanders removed it for vouchers bought from 1 January 2025; Brussels and Wallonia have their own rules. Check with the regional authority.
How do I know if a provider is approved for service vouchers? Ask them directly: only an approved company can accept service vouchers, and approval is specific to each Region.