Heat Without a Choice
Many apartments in the Netherlands, especially in larger, post-war complexes or specific modern developments, are not heated by an individual central heating boiler (CV-ketel). Instead, they are connected to a collective heating system. There are two main types:
- Block Heating (
Blokverwarming): A single, large heating installation in the building's basement or utility area provides heat and often hot water to all the apartments in that building or block.
- District Heating (
Stadsverwarming): Heat is supplied to an entire neighborhood or district from a central power plant or industrial source. It is transported as hot water through a large underground network of pipes directly to the buildings.
While these systems can be efficient, they share one defining characteristic for the tenant: a complete lack of consumer choice. The tenant cannot switch providers to find a better deal. They are bound to the single supplier for the building, and the costs are passed on to them by the landlord via the service charges.
The Dutch Heat Act (Warmtewet) and Pricing
The monopolistic nature of these heating systems is regulated by the Warmtewet (Heat Act). This law is designed to protect consumers from price gouging. It stipulates that the maximum price a supplier can charge for collective heat cannot be higher than the average price a consumer would have paid if they had their own individual gas-powered boiler. This is known as the 'Niet-meer-dan-anders' (NMDA) or 'no-more-than-otherwise' principle. While this provides a ceiling, the rates are still often perceived as high, and the lack of competition removes any incentive for the supplier to offer lower prices.
The Annual Settlement (Stookkostenafrekening)
A tenant with communal heating pays a monthly advance (voorschot) for their expected consumption. At the end of the year, they receive a complex annual settlement (jaarafrekening or stookkostenafrekening). This bill calculates their share of the total heating costs. A portion of the costs is fixed (for the connection and shared infrastructure), and a portion is variable, based on individual usage. This usage is measured by heat cost allocators (warmtekostenverdelers)—small devices on each radiator that measure heat output. These bills are notoriously difficult to understand and are a frequent source of disputes. Tenants often struggle to verify if the total building consumption is correct and if the costs have been allocated fairly among the residents. Demanding to see the original bill from the energy supplier to the landlord is a tenant's right in case of a dispute.
