Meals are not included. As with host family accommodation, you will be asked to abide by the rules of the house, and will ask the permission of the owners to invite friends to stay overnight. The conditions are the same as for the semi-independent housing, but the room is in a university dorm or in a house where the owner does not live. Other students may live in the house, but this is often not the case during the summer. Sharing a room with another student is very uncommon in Belgium.
Independent housing can be more difficult to find, especially in smaller towns.
If you arrive earlier, you may ask the host or landlord if it is possible to move in earlier. If not, you should travel or stay in a youth hostel until the accommodation is available. Payments for accommodations are paid directly to the owner. However, any stay longer than 3 months will require a Stay Permit, which must be obtained at the Belgian consulate in the U.S. before your departure. If you would like to stay for more than 3 months, please contact InterExchange for more information.