Service costs
You will find answers to all of your service cost related questions below. Do you have an additional question? Feel free to contact us directly.
Tenants pay an advance in service costs for costs that are not included in the base rent. For an example of these costs see: examples of service costs.
Energy & Water
Costs related to the use of water, gas and electricity (or other energy) if you do not have your own individual meter.
Division of charges: the total costs divided using an agreed upon distribution key or a distribution key as advised by the Huurcommissie.
Superintendent
Costs such as salary, housing and materials.
Division of charges: the costs related to the superintendent’s duties, divided according to a distribution key. Duties: maintenance, cleaning and small repairs which can also be charged directly to the tenant.
The time which the superintendent spends on duties which would otherwise not be charged to the tenant may not be included in the service costs.
Administration costs
The agreed upon goods and services.
Division of charges: maximum 5% of the total service costs.
Furnishings
Charges for the use of furniture and soft furnishing within the home (carpeting, window coverings etc.).
Division of charges: 20% of the resale value may be charged each year.
Other costs
Communal areas, lifts, hallways and storage areas. Heating, water and lighting. Costs of repairs that are the responsibility of the tenant.
Division of charges: the costs actually incurred divided according to a distribution key.
The service costs must reflect the actual charges; the landlord may not earn a profit. Service costs may not be charged for matters such as built-in appliances or double glazing; these items are included in the base rent. The landlord must calculate the actual costs at the end of the year and send a settlement to the tenants. The landlord has until 1 July to do so. Tenants who have overpaid in their advance must receive the excess portion. Would you like to have your service costs looked over? Complete the appointment form and the Huurteam will evaluate whether we can test your service costs.
Yes, this is possible. You can have your service costs analysed by the Huurcommissie up to 2.5 years following the end of the calendar year.
All-in contracts are not legally permitted. The landlord is required to separate the base rent from the service costs. Unfortunately, all-in rental prices are still rather common. To ensure that the rent or service costs aren’t too high, the all-in rental price must be divided into base rent and service costs. If you are currently paying an all-in rental price, we recommend scheduling an appointment with Huurteam Utrecht for a property evaluation. We will visit your room or property in order to calculate the maximum rental price and can then initiate legal proceedings to have your rent properly separated and lowered
An increase in service costs is permitted if the service will be expanded and the landlord has discussed this in advance with you. In addition, an increase may also be applied if the annual overview shows that the costs the landlord incurred for services provided to you exceed the service costs charged. This must be discussed in advance. If your advance was not enough to cover the final charges, the landlord must be able to provide proof of this, for example by providing the related invoices.
Does your annual service cost settlement seem incorrect? Request the invoices from your landlord. If your landlord refuses to provide the requested documentation, have your service costs analysed by the Huurcommissie. Huurteam Utrecht submits these proceedings on your behalf; this won’t cost you any additional time or resources.
Each year you should receive a service cost settlement. If this overview shows that the costs weren’t fully covered by the tenant’s advance, the landlord may propose an increase to the advance. The landlord is not allowed to include additional items in the service costs without first informing the tenants and they agree to this expansion of services. Has your landlord indicated his/her intention to increase the service costs? Don’t hesitate to contact the Huurteam. We can advise you on the best way to handle the situation.