Rental Costs

Garden Maintenance Fee

Tuinonderhoudskosten

A garden maintenance fee is a legitimate service charge for the upkeep of a communal garden, but not for a private garden that the tenant must maintain themselves.

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A fee charged for administrative actions, which is almost always illegal when levied on a tenant by a landlord's agent.

An administrative fee, often called 'contractkosten' or a lease initiation fee, is a charge for drawing up the rental agreement, the legality of which is highly questionable.

'Leges' are administrative fees charged by government bodies for providing a specific service or processing an application.

An agency fee, also known as a broker fee or 'courtage', is a charge for real estate brokerage services which, by law, cannot be charged to a tenant if the agent is working for the landlord.

An alarm system fee is a recurring cost for professional monitoring, and responsibility for payment depends on what is agreed in the rental contract.

Paying residential rent annually is not a standard practice in the Netherlands; the law and market are based on monthly payments.

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For Communal Gardens Only

A 'garden maintenance fee' (kosten voor tuinonderhoud) can be a legitimate charge, but only under one specific condition: it must be for the professional maintenance of a shared, communal garden (gemeenschappelijke tuin) that is accessible to multiple residents. In many modern apartment complexes, the grounds are maintained by a professional gardening company hired by the landlord or the Vereniging van Eigenaars (VvE). The costs for this service—mowing the lawn, pruning hedges, maintaining flowerbeds—are then divided among all the residents who benefit from the garden. This charge would be included as a component of the monthly servicekosten, and the landlord must provide a transparent, annual accounting of the actual gardening expenses.

The Crucial 'Private Garden' Distinction

This communal fee must be sharply contrasted with the situation for a private garden that is for the exclusive use of one tenant (e.g., the garden of a ground-floor apartment or a single-family home). In this case, the rental agreement almost universally stipulates that the tenant is responsible for the day-to-day maintenance (dagelijks onderhoud) of their own garden, at their own expense. This includes tasks like mowing the lawn, weeding, and light pruning. For a landlord to charge a separate 'gardening fee' while also requiring the tenant to perform the maintenance would be illegal 'double-dipping'. The landlord remains responsible only for major upkeep, such as pruning large trees or repairing fences.

Scrutinize the Lease Agreement

Before signing a lease, a prospective tenant must carefully read the clauses related to the garden. If it is a private garden, be clear on the level of maintenance you are expected to perform. A beautifully complex garden can be a significant time and cost burden. If there is a communal garden, the contract should specify that the maintenance costs will be passed on via the servicekosten. A landlord who tries to charge a vague, fixed 'gardening fee' for a private garden without it being a transparent part of the servicekosten system is likely acting improperly. Always ask for clarity on who is responsible for what, and who pays for it.