Rental Costs

Locksmith Fee

Slotenmakerskosten

Responsibility for a locksmith fee depends on the reason: a tenant who locks themselves out pays the fee, while the landlord pays if the lock is defective.

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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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Who Pays Depends on Who's at Fault

The question of who is responsible for paying a locksmith fee (slotenmakerkosten) is determined by a simple principle: whoever is at fault for the situation bears the cost. 1. Tenant's Responsibility: If you lock yourself out of your apartment, lose your keys, or break the key in the lock due to your own actions, you are responsible for calling and paying for the locksmith. This is considered a problem caused by the tenant's own doing, not a defect of the property. 2. Landlord's Responsibility: If the lock is broken or malfunctioning due to age, wear and tear, or a technical defect, it is the landlord's responsibility to arrange and pay for the repair. A faulty lock is a gebrek (defect) that the landlord is legally obligated to fix as part of their duty to maintain the property. A tenant should not have to pay to fix a lock that has failed through no fault of their own.

The Reality of Lockouts and Predatory Locksmiths

Locking yourself out is a stressful and common experience. The first and best advice is to have a spare key with a trusted neighbor, friend, or family member nearby. If you must call a locksmith, be extremely cautious. The locksmith industry in the Netherlands is unfortunately plagued by predatory companies (malafide slotenmakers) that take advantage of people in a vulnerable situation by charging exorbitant fees, often many hundreds of euros for a simple job. Always agree on a fixed price (including all taxes and call-out charges) over the phone before the locksmith comes to your location. Ask if they are a member of a trade association. If a locksmith's quote seems outrageously high, hang up and call another one. It is better to make several calls than to be scammed.

When the Lock Fails

If your lock breaks, you must report it to your landlord immediately. If it is outside of office hours and constitutes an emergency (e.g., you cannot secure your front door), you should call the landlord's provided emergency number. If the landlord is completely unreachable and the situation is urgent, the tenant may have to arrange for an emergency repair themselves. In this case, you should pay the locksmith, get a detailed invoice (factuur), and then formally request reimbursement from the landlord. The landlord is legally obligated to reimburse you for legitimate costs incurred to fix a defect they failed to address in a timely manner, but it can sometimes be a difficult process to get your money back.