Leasing from a Private Owner
'Condominium' is a North American term for a privately owned apartment within a larger building. The Dutch equivalent is an appartementsrecht (apartment right). When you sign a 'condominium lease', you are simply entering into a standard residential lease (huurovereenkomst voor woonruimte) with the individual owner of that specific apartment. The key difference from renting in a building owned by a single large company is the ownership structure. Your landlord is an individual who is just one of many owners in the building, and all these owners are collectively organized in a mandatory Vereniging van Eigenaars (VvE), or Owners' Association.
The Importance of the VvE Rules
The VvE is responsible for the management and maintenance of the building's communal areas and structure (the roof, foundation, hallways, elevator, etc.). The VvE operates according to a set of foundational legal documents: the deed of division (splitsingsakte) and the internal regulations (huishoudelijk reglement). These rules govern everything from noise levels and waste disposal to alterations to the building's exterior. As a tenant, you are not a member of the VvE, but you are legally obligated to abide by all its rules. Your landlord must provide you with a copy of these regulations as part of your lease agreement. A breach of the VvE rules by a tenant can be considered a breach of the rental contract, so it is essential to read and understand them.
Practical Implications for Tenants
Renting from a condominium owner has practical implications. On the one hand, you may have a more personal relationship with your landlord. On the other hand, maintenance issues can sometimes be more complex. If you have a leak in your ceiling, your landlord may need to get approval and cooperation from the VvE to fix the roof, which can sometimes be a slower process than dealing with a single, professional landlord who owns the entire building. The VvE rules can also be quite restrictive, for example, regarding the placement of satellite dishes or the type of flooring you are allowed to install (due to noise insulation requirements).
