A landlord cannot simply decide to increase the rent and inform the tenant verbally. A rent increase (huurverhoging) is a formal change to the rental agreement, and as such, it is only legally valid if the landlord adheres to a strict notification procedure. The landlord must send a formal, written notice of the proposed rent increase to the tenant. An oral notification or a casual email is not sufficient. While the notice can be sent by email, a registered letter (aangetekende brief) is the most legally sound method for the landlord.
The Legal Requirements for the Notice
The law specifies exactly what information the rent increase notice must contain. If any of this information is missing, the notice is legally invalid. The notice must include: 1. The current basic rent (huidige kale huur). 2. The percentage of the increase. 3. The new basic rent (nieuwe kale huur). 4. The effective date of the new rent (ingangsdatum). 5. The method by which the tenant can object to the increase. A notice that simply says 'Your rent will go up next month' is legally worthless, and the tenant is not required to pay the higher amount.
The Two-Month Rule
One of the most critical rules is the notice period. The landlord must provide the tenant with the written rent increase notice at least two months before the proposed increase is due to take effect. For example, if the landlord wants to increase the rent starting on July 1st, the tenant must have received the written notice no later than April 30th. If the landlord provides less than two months' notice, the proposed increase is invalid for the proposed date. The landlord would have to issue a new, correct notice, and the increase would be postponed. This rule gives the tenant adequate time to review the proposal, check its legality, and formally object if necessary.