Amsterdam has imposed several penalty orders on the manager of a large student complex in Amsterdam Southeast. The total amount is €45,000.

The manager rents out more than 350 studios to students but does not comply with the rules of the Good Landlord Act. If the manager does not correct the violations, the amount can rise to a maximum of €530,000.

Tenants must be treated fairly

Alderman Zita Pels (Housing): “It is important that everyone can live comfortably and safely. Fortunately, most landlords comply with the rules. But those who do not, we will take action against. Tenants must not be financially disadvantaged by unclear rules or excessive costs.”

Investigation after reports

Since the introduction of the Good Landlord Act in 2023, landlords must comply with clear rules that protect tenants from abuse. After reports from tenants, we as a municipality conducted an investigation at the student complex. It appeared that the manager violated the law on multiple points.

What went wrong

Among other things, we found the following violations:

  • Too high and late refunded deposit
    The manager asked for a higher deposit than allowed. Since July 1, 2023, a deposit may be a maximum of twice the basic rent. The deposit was also often refunded too late. According to the rules, this must be within 14 days, or within 30 days if there is damage.
  • Unclear service costs
    Landlords must provide an overview of the actual service costs every year. This did not happen. It also appeared that costs were sometimes too high or that charges were made for services not provided.
  • Tenants not properly informed
    According to the law, landlords must inform tenants in writing about their rights and where they can go in case of problems. The manager did not do this.

Intimidation

There were also reports of intimidation by the manager. We take such signals seriously. However, in this case, there was not enough evidence to take enforcement action. We advise tenants to collect as much evidence as possible in case of intimidation, such as emails or audio recordings.

Cooperation with !WOON

In such situations, we work together with the !WOON Foundation. As a municipality, we supervise compliance with the law. !WOON informs and supports tenants with problems with their landlord. Together we help tenants to claim their rights and possibly recover overpaid costs.

More information

For more information about the Good Landlord Act and the reporting point, visit the municipal website Check your rental rights

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