Renting Dutch property in the Netherlands isn’t as simple as everyone might like. When actually looking at renting Dutch property it is worth noting that the actual process of renting Dutch property is divided into social controlled schemes run by the government or rent controlled schemes run on the private market.
If housing is rent controlled then it will be subject to classification through the Dutch points system. This system determines the maximum rent amount for any flat or house as a renting property depending on the facilities, space and overall state of the building in regards to renting Dutch property. Your income and amount of time planned to stay within the country will also be taken into account when looking at renting Dutch property in the Netherlands.
If looking at particular types of housing, including rent controlled property, there are very long waiting lists – some people can wait up to a decade. While the rent is significantly cheaper than renting Dutch property through the private market, the time involved in waiting can be costly.
Renting Dutch Property: Properties on the Market
There is often a huge shortage of properties available in the Netherlands for people looking
to rent Dutch property, particularly within cities. Don’t let the media reports around renting Dutch property in the Netherlands and new properties fool you either, these are mostly being built on sites where older accommodation has been demolished.
This has the effect of making prices highly expense for renting Dutch property. The top end of the rental market is often compared to a rat race, generally being a free for all in terms of signing the contract to cement a rental agreement in place for renting Dutch property. Prices can vary between 600 Euros and 2500 Euros a month. Flats and houses in the centre of Amsterdam can cost anywhere between 2000 and 4000 Euros for a 17th century converted flat of over 50 square meters, these prices are nationally accepted for renting Dutch property.
Rents for renting Dutch properties are typically due at the beginning of each month for renting Dutch property, usually in the first week. This is paid to either the landlord directly or the agency dealing with the property.
Renting Dutch Property: Contract Contents
The contract signed when renting Dutch property should set out all terms and conditions for rent. This should typically include:
- The timing and amounts for each payment of rent (usually paid one month in advance).
- All details of adjustments surrounding annual rent amounts, usually based on official cost of living standards statistics (recently around the 2 or 3% mark).
- The deposit amount required. (Typically the equivalent of one, two or even three months rental).
- Brokerage fee’s (if any).
- Additional payments on top of rent (such as electricity, gas, factoring fees or other utilities).
- Details surrounding the split in responsibilities between the tenant and the landlord in regards to major or minor repairs. (Usually the landlord is responsible for structural issues while, regardless of cause, tenants pay 110 Euros or more for each minor repair).
- Maintenance responsibilities.
- Details relating to notice periods
Both the tenant and the landlord must sign the contract, after which the keys should be handed over to the tenant. Before finally renting Dutch property in the Netherlands, an inventory must be signed listing all items present before taking the keys.
All going well, the landlord will refund the deposit at the end of the time period for renting Dutch property after checking the inventory for all items and ensuring that they are present. Charges can be applied up to three months later for any unpaid bills and missing items.
For more information on Working in Netherlands or Contracting in Europe visit the Euro Accountancy & Finance Services website.
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