Have Your Rent Price in Utrecht Checked by the Rent Committee
Living in Utrecht and doubting the legality of your rent price? In a city like Utrecht with high rents and many student and young family homes, the Rent Committee checks for free whether the price fits the housing valuation system (HVS). For social rent in neighborhoods such as Overvecht or Kanaleneiland, it is completely free; for liberalized rent in the city center, you pay a €25 deposit, which is often refunded.
What Does the Rent Committee Specifically Check for Utrecht Properties?
The assessment is based on points for surface area, facilities such as a modern kitchen or elevator, energy index, and the Utrecht location. Think of extra points for proximity to the Dom Tower or Central Station. The maximum rent at 142 points is €808.06 (2024). If your rent exceeds this, as often happens in popular neighborhoods such as Lombok or Wittevrouwen, you can demand a reduction – sometimes up to 20%!
Application Procedure for Utrecht Tenants
- Gather your tenancy agreement, specification of service charges (often high due to Utrecht parking costs), and the recent WOZ decision from the Municipality of Utrecht.
- Submit easily online via huurcommissie.nl and include your Utrecht postcode for local context.
- Wait for the hearing (within 3 months), which is sometimes held in Utrecht.
The decision is binding; the landlord usually pays the costs. In case of objection, you can go to the District Court of Midden-Nederland in Utrecht.
Relevant Laws with a Utrecht Perspective
- Good Landlordship Act: Extra protection for Utrecht tenants against aggressive price increases.
- Rent Price Assessment Regulation 2024: Updated points tables, including valuation for Utrecht monumental buildings.
Particularly useful for new landlords in Utrecht or recent rent increases due to the tight housing market.