Carles Puigdemont rents villa in Waterloo, report says

Exiled Catalan leader Carles Puigdemont is preparing to settle into a new home in Waterloo, L'Echo reports.

The newspaper cites a "reliable source" who says Puigdemont has rented a large villa on the Rue de l'Avocat, via a friend. The six-bedroom house has a sauna, a four-car garage and a large garden and reportedly costs €4,400 a month in rent.

Another nearby property is being considered for the politician's entourage and security staff, L'Echo adds.

Waterloo mayor Florence Reuter told Belga news agency she was not aware. The town councillor in charge of maintaining the population register said no formal registration by Puigdemont had been made.

Catalonia's ousted leader and five of his advisors arrived in Brussels in last October, after Spain's attorney general filed rebellion and sedition charges following the region's independence referendum.