ACCESS NL > Housing in the Netherlands > Renting a house in the Netherlands > What are the standard practices for renting via a makelaar (real estate agent)?

Renting a house in the Netherlands

How can I avoid scams when looking for a rental property?

What are the standard practices for renting via a makelaar (real estate agent)?

In general, the minimum rental period for an unfurnished dwelling is one year, but sometimes a shorter lease is possible.
It is also standard that the tenant will get a diplomatenclausule (diplomatic clause). This means that if, on account of his/her work, the tenant will be transferred to a place 50 km or more removed from the premises or if he/she has to leave the premises for reasons beyond his/her control, the tenant is entitled to terminate this agreement prematurely. In this case, the tenant has to give the owner one to two full calendar months’ notice.

Rent is due before the first day of each month, and you pay it either directly to your landlord or to an agency that operates between you and the landlord.

Legally, the length of time required to terminate your contract is equal to the regular time period for which you pay your rent. For example, if the rent is paid every month, then the termination period for your contract is also one month. The period of termination may not be less than one month or more than three months.

When you sign the lease on a property, you often have to pay one month’s rent in advance as a deposit or a bank guarantee will be needed when renting a house. This amount is refunded if the house is in a satisfactory condition at the end of your stay.

The real estate agent is not allowed to charge you anything for helping. They often charge approximately one month’s rent (plus VAT) and call it service costs, but this is not allowed.  If you rented an apartment in the past five years and you were charged agency fees, usually about a month’s rent plus taxes, this might not have been legal. If so, you might be able to claim a refund. More information how to do this is available on https://www.wooninfo.nl/english/reclaim-unjust-agency-fees/.

What is the process of finalising the deal while renting a property?

I have rented a house and some repairs are needed. Who is responsible for this: the landlord or I?

How about taking possession?

What should I do when I want to hand the property back to the landlord?

I have some issues and contract disputes with my landlord on the room/house that I am renting. Can ACCESS provide me with some legal advice or is there a legal authority that I can go to or consult regarding these issues?

I have signed my rental contract but I realise only now that some things in the contract are not fair. What can I do about it?

The contract is in my partner’s name and she/he is leaving the Netherlands. May I continue living in the house?

How can I get water, electricity and gas connections?

How can I get connected to telephone, Internet and TV?

Are there any special rules for collecting household waste?

My landlord doesn’t maintain the house properly. What can I do?