Service Charges in Temporary Rental in Utrecht
In Utrecht, where the rental market is tight due to the growth of students and young professionals, service charges (Article 7:259 of the Dutch Civil Code) include utilities such as water and gas, maintenance of properties in neighborhoods like Kanaleneiland or Lombok, and contributions to the Owners' Association (VvE). For temporary rental agreements, often used for rooms in student housing, these costs must be fully specified and charged as an advance, followed by an annual final settlement.
Transparency Obligation in Utrecht
Landlords in Utrecht are required to provide a detailed overview of expected service charges, taking into account local rates for municipal taxes and sewerage charges. Tenants in the city have the right to inspect the landlord's administration, for example, with housing corporations such as Portaal or SSH. Without adequate specification, a maximum of 80% may be charged as an advance to prevent abuses in the Utrecht rental market.
Settlement and Dispute Resolution
Surpluses must be refunded to the tenant within six months. In case of deficits, the landlord may offset these against future rental payments. Disputes over service charges in Utrecht are submitted to the Rent Commission in the Central Netherlands region; in cases of abuse or unreasonable rates, the court may moderate the costs. Recent changes as of 2023 prohibit 'all-in rents' without specification, which is enforced particularly strictly by the municipality of Utrecht to curb excesses in temporary rentals.