Indexation of Service Costs versus WWS Maximum in Utrecht: The Pitfalls

In Utrecht, service costs indexation may not fall below the WWS maximum, but landlords in popular neighbourhoods such as Lombok or Wittevrouwen often use it as a backdoor route. Article 7:892 of the Dutch Civil Code (BW) clearly separates the bare rent from service costs, which may be indexed annually based on the CPI (consumer price index). However, Utrecht housing associations such as Portaal or Haag Wonen sometimes bundle this with rent increases, which is legally invalid. Carefully check the specification: fixed costs such as lift maintenance in flats around the city centre versus variable expenses such as cleaning in student complexes. Only CPI adjustment is permitted, not the WWS percentage. Request annual accounts from the landlord and compare with CBS inflation figures. Exceedance? Rebut item by item with evidence. The Huurcommissie in Utrecht tests this separately and takes local market pressure into account. Avoid the pitfall by invoicing bare rent and service costs separately, as required in Utrecht rental agreements. In case of abuse: demand rent reduction via the municipality or court. Stay alert for this grey area, especially with the rising rents in Utrecht due to the housing shortage.