Security Deposit for Room Rentals and Student Housing in Utrecht

In Utrecht, more flexible rules apply to room rentals: the security deposit may not exceed two months' rent (Article 7:232 of the Dutch Civil Code). For students in the city, local guarantee funds such as the Utrecht Student Fund or the Utrecht Student Council are often used. Landlords in Utrecht must conduct an inspection within 14 days of departure, particularly in popular student complexes around the Uithof or Kanaleneiland. For multi-family dwellings, common in neighborhoods like Lombok or Wittevrouwen, a pro-rata settlement of the deposit applies. Disputes in Utrecht are handled by the Utrecht Rent Commission or the municipality's room dispute committee. Tip: draft a collective rental agreement with co-tenants, ideal for shared houses in student areas. The obligation to pay interest on the deposit always remains in effect. For short-term rentals such as via Airbnb in Utrecht: take into account stricter platform conditions and the Utrecht Housing Ordinance. Document inspections and damage digitally for evidence. Assistance is available through the National Action Platform for Student Housing and locally at Woonlinie Utrecht or the Legal Counter in the city. Note the high demand for rooms due to the University of Utrecht and Utrecht University of Applied Sciences.