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Is an AI-generated inspection report legally valid?
Yes. The law sets no requirements for how an inspection report is produced, only for the result: it must be detailed, drawn up adversarially, and dated and signed by both parties. An inspection report written by AI and then reviewed and signed by the parties meets those requirements just as well as a handwritten document or one drawn up by an expert.
What makes an inspection report legally valid?
The Belgian regional lease legislation (and article 1730 of the old Civil Code on which it builds) sets four substantive conditions:
- Detailed: precise, room by room. General phrases like "in good condition" are worthless.
- Adversarial: both parties (or their representatives) are involved in drawing it up or expressly approve the document.
- Dated and signed: by tenant and landlord, each with a copy.
- Registered: together with the lease, free of charge via MyRent.
Nowhere is there a requirement about the tool: pen and paper, a Word template, an expert or AI software. The law is neutral about the method; what counts is that the end result meets the four conditions.
Why is an AI report "adversarial" if software writes it?
"Adversarial" is about the role of the parties, not about who types the text. With an expert too, one person writes the document; it becomes adversarial because both parties are involved in the inspection, approve the result and sign it.
With an AI inspection report it is identical: the photos are taken on site (ideally with both parties present), the AI turns them into a structured report, and a human checks, corrects and finalises. Only after both parties sign does the document become final. The AI is a writing aid; the legal act remains entirely with the parties.
Is an AI report detailed enough to qualify as "detailed"?
That depends on the quality of the input and the software, exactly as with a human author. A good AI report describes per room the floors, walls, ceilings, joinery and appliances present, names visible damage and references the matching photos. Because every finding is linked to a dated photo, the evidential value is in practice often stronger than a brief typed report without images.
Note: the user remains responsible for completeness. Photograph every room fully, including meters and details, and review the generated report before finalising it.
Does an electronic signature count?
Yes. Within the EU, the eIDAS regulation provides that an electronic signature may not be denied as evidence solely because it is electronic. A qualified electronic signature (for example via eID or itsme in Belgium) has the same legal value as a handwritten one. An inspection report may therefore be signed and stored digitally.
AI inspection report or expert: which to choose?
Both are legally valid; the difference lies in cost, speed and who does the work. An expert quickly costs a few hundred euros per report and must be scheduled; doing it yourself with AI software costs a fraction of that and the report is ready in minutes. When a conflict is foreseeable (for example a difficult relationship between the parties), an independent expert can still be the better choice: that independence then outweighs the price. For the vast majority of rentals, a detailed AI report signed by both parties is more than sufficient.
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Frequently asked questions
Is an inspection report consisting only of photos valid?
Photos alone do not constitute a detailed inspection report: a descriptive document signed by both parties is required. Photos are, however, the strongest possible support for that document.
Does the tenant have to be present when the photos are taken?
It is the safest approach: the adversarial character is then guaranteed automatically. If not possible, have the tenant expressly approve and sign the finished report before or at the key handover.
Will the justice of the peace accept an AI inspection report?
The judge assesses whether the document is detailed, adversarial and signed, not which software created it. A precise, signed report with dated photos is strong evidence.
Who is responsible if the AI misses something?
The parties themselves: they check and sign the report. So always review the generated document and add to it where needed, just as you would proofread an expert's report.
