Interim Rental and Urgent Termination of Temporary Contracts

Interim rental, regulated in article 7:232 of the Dutch Civil Code (BW), is popular in Utrecht due to the thriving student market and temporary housing around Utrecht University and Utrecht University of Applied Sciences. It differs from regular rental due to its short-term nature, but urgent termination applies analogously with faster procedures. Subtenants in Utrecht canal houses or student flats can terminate for serious nuisance caused by the main tenant, such as illegal occupancy or overcrowded parties in Kanaleneiland. The landlord terminates for default, provided it is reported without delay to the municipality of Utrecht. Specifically for furnished rental with a temporary contract in the Lombok neighbourhood, it ends automatically, but an urgent reason accelerates it via the District Court of Midden-Nederland. The judge applies a stricter test due to the temporary nature; evidence via WhatsApp messages, videos or neighbour statements from Overvecht is crucial. Examples: party nuisance in a holiday home near the city centre or damage by groups in an Airbnb property on the Oudegracht. Procedure: immediate termination plus expedited procedure before the district court judge in Utrecht. Tenants lose less housing protection than in main tenancies. Costs are lower due to urgency, without the Rent Tribunal – direct application of the BW. In ECLI:NL:RBMNE:2023:4564, the Utrecht court ruled dissolution of interim rental due to threats and noise nuisance. Unlike main rental: faster resolution. Advice: explicitly regulate the rental agreement with Utrecht-specific nuances, such as camera access. Property owners in Utrecht protect via deposit and local insurances. Interim rental offers flexibility for expats and students, but risks with stricter enforcement in case of abuse.