Please note that we sometimes refer to pages that are only available in Dutch. Hopefully someone else can help you translate the information if you need assistance. Perhaps a buddy can help? The buddy program of the Student Union aims to help arriving international students feel welcomed and begin their new life smoothly in the Netherlands and at the University of Twente.
It seems that you have found a place to live and you are about to sign your rental contract. But before you sign, it is best to check a few things first, so you know whether your landlord has arranged everything properly for you. Roomspot has information for you about what types of landlords and what types of rental contracts exist. We can give you information about various legal matters and regulations that apply in the Netherlands for renting accommodation. And we will tell you where to go for more information or help in case of complaints of problems.
We hope to help you with this step-by-step plan:
Step 1: The costs. Does the landlord ask realistic rent for the accommodation that you want to rent? We tell you how the rental price is determined and what can be included or excluded in the rent. We also inform you how you can receive financial support from the government by applying for rent benefit. Your landlord may increase your rent annually. In addition to your rent, you also have to pay municipal taxes to the town where you live. Sometimes this is included in the rental price and sometimes it isn’t.
Step 2: Check the living space. At the start of your rental period, the landlord is obliged to ensure that the accommodation is clean and has no damage as well as to hand over the keys. Delivery and key transfer can be arranged differently per landlord. What should you pay attention to? During your rental period you are expected to maintain the rented property properly, but what are you responsible for? We tell you everything about the maintenance of your living space.
Step 3: Check your rental contract. As a tenant in the Netherlands, you can rely on the right of rent and protection of tenants. This does depend on the type of rental contract you sign. We provide an overview of the possible rental contracts that exist. The content of your rental contract must always contain certain items. Check whether your rental contract complies with this. In addition, a landlord can sometimes charge extra costs when signing the rental contract. We will explain what is and is not allowed. We also explain how you can cancel your rental contact yourself and which rules you must follow.
Step 4: Rights and obligations. Know your rights and obligations as a tenant. And know what to do in case of complaints. Are you unable to reach an agreement with your landlord? In the Netherlands there are various organisations where you can go for information or if you have complaints about your landlord.