Rental price

Have a look here for questions regarding rental prices and rent increases. Can’t find what you’re looking for? Feel free to contact us directly.

How can I reduce my rental price?

There are a number of options:

  1. If you are inconvenienced by lack of maintenance, you can have the Huurteam initiate a procedure to reduce the rent due to overdue maintenance. The Huurcommissie will rule on the issue and will lower your rent if the deficiencies are serious.
  2. If the base rental price is higher than the maximum rental price for your room or property, you can qualify for a rental reduction. If this situation applies to you, the Huurteam will initiate legal proceedings with the Huurcommissie. Various proceedings are possible through the Huurcommissie, depending on the tenant’s rental agreement.
  • If your rental contract was concluded after 1 July 2016, we can assess the rental price up to 2.5 years max after the rental agreement came into effect. This applies to both property and room rentals. This assessment can identify whether you are entitled to retrospective repayment of the excess from the start of your contract.
  • If your rental contract was concluded prior to 1 July 2016,we can only assess the rental price within the first 6 months following the signing of the contract. If you have signed your rental contract more than 6 months ago, the Huurteam can no longer assess your rental price; the Huurteam will commence a (legal) procedure with the Huurcommissie to lower your rent. This legal procedure will not result in retrospective return of excess rent from the start of your contract, but from the moment the procedure was commenced with the Huurcommissie. Click here for more information regarding the ‘maximum rental price’.
What is an all-in rental price?

The base rent is the rental price for the use of the living space. All-in rent is the base rent plus the service costs and utilities. All-in rent has the following disadvantages for you, as a tenant:

  • You never know if you are paying too much rent for your room or property.
  • You cannot calculate if the annual rental increase is correct. The rental increase is calculated based on the base rent and not on the all-in rent charged.
  • You can never determine the exact amount of service costs you have paid.
When can I object to the rent increase?
  • The rent increase amounts to more than the allowed maximum increase.
  • Due to the rent increase the rent will be more than the maximum rent price according to the property value system.
  • The rent increase proposal contains mistakes. For example a wrong starting date or rent price.
  • The landlord wants to increase the rent again within 12 months.
  • You’ve received the rent increase proposal less than 2 months before the start date.
  • The  Huurcommissie (Rental Tribunal) has temporarily reduced the rent due to serious overdue maintenance defects and the defects have not yet been remedied.
  • The rent price is an all-in rent price. If the basic rent price is not known the landlord is not allowed to propose a rental increase.
What is my maximum rental price?

The points system determines the quality of a rental property based on points. The points system is also referred to as the property value system. Each component of the property, such as the surface area and facilities, receives points. The combined total dictates the maximum rental price. The point values are re-evaluated each year. During their visit, the Huurteam determines the maximum rental price for the room or property. Would you like the Huurteam to calculate the maximum amount of rent that you should be charged? Complete our appointment form and we will contact you to schedule an appointment.

How do I know if my rental increase is correct?

The landlord has the right to increase the rent once per year by a certain percentage. This percentage is determined annually. More information about this percentage can be found via the website of the ‘Rijksoverheid’. In most cases the proposal to increase the rent of the landlord is not correct. Huurteam Utrecht can object on your behalf against the rent increase. Have you receive a rent increase proposal from the landlord? Let us check it!