Hotline problems with landlord

Since July 1, 2023, there has been the Good Landlord Act. This law contains clear rules that a landlord must abide by. If a landlord does not comply with these rules, a tenant can report this to the municipality.

You can watch an explainer video(external link) about this new law here. 

Rules for landlords

Good landlordism means:

  1. The landlord may not discriminate.
  2. The landlord may not intimidate you. This can be either physical or written;
  3. Any deposit may not exceed twice the rent;
  4. The landlord must put the lease in writing, which includes:
    • the rights and duties of the tenant;
    • clear arrangements for any security deposit;
    • administrator's contact information;  
    • contact information for the local hotline problems with landlords;
    • rules on service charges;
    • the calculation of the point score in accordance with the housing valuation system with the corresponding rent.
  5. Do you pay service charges? If so, the landlord must provide a specification of these when entering into the lease.  
  6. The rental intermediary may not charge double mediation fees. These fees are for the landlord (the party hiring the mediator).
  7. For the low and middle rental segment (up to 186 points), it is prohibited to rent housing more expensive than the number of points in the housing valuation system indicates. 
  8. It is prohibited to apply a rent increase that exceeds the maximum allowable rent increase percentage.
  9. Are you a migrant worker? A rental agreement must be signed separately from the employment agreement.
  10. The landlord must provide the information mentioned in point 4 in your preferred language.

You can read the entire text of the law at: wetten.nl - Regeling - Wet goed verhuurderschap - BWBR0048028 (overheid.nl)

Problems you can report to the municipality

We have established a hotline where tenants and home seekers can go if they experience unwanted behavior from landlords or rental agents. You can report undesirable behavior if:

  • you, as a home seeker of a private rental property, face behavior that violates the aforementioned general rules of good landlord conduct;
  • you are renting a property from a private landlord who does not follow the general rules of conduct. 
  • you are looking for a rental property through a rental intermediary and the rental intermediary is not following the general rules of good landlordism. A rental intermediary is someone who puts tenants in contact with private landlords;
  • You are a foreign worker with a work-rental contract. You then work and live through an employment agency, for example;
  • you are renting a property and suspect that the rent was not set in accordance with guidelines or the rent increase is not in compliance. 

Do you rent a house from Elkien, WoonFriesland or Woonzorg Nederland? For complaints and reports regarding the amount of the rent and the annual rent increase, you can file a report with the municipality. For other complaints about good landlord practices, you should file the report with the housing corporation in question itself.  

Are you experiencing problems or difficulties that have not yet been named? If so, the municipality cannot enforce it. Other options for help are the Rent Commission or the legal desk.

  • Rent Commission: is a body that can provide help with rental issues you are unsure about: www.huurcommissie.nl. The Rent Commission is an impartial and independent dispute resolution body for tenants and landlords. They can offer help if you disagree about, for example, rent, maintenance or service costs. The Rent Commission makes a ruling based on laws and regulations and makes a ruling that both parties must abide by.
  • Legal Help Desk: The Legal Help Desk provides free online legal advice on housing and neighbor issues. Do you have a low income and little savings? If so, they can also help you in person. Housing and neighbors | The Legal Help Desk

File a report

Use the button below to submit a report.

Report

Do you still have questions or are you unable to report online? If so, please contact the municipality using the contact information below. 

Contact

Do you have questions or want more information?

Then contact us at meldpuntwonen@opsterland.nl or call 14 0512.

Municipality of Opsterland