A Landlord's Core Responsibility, Not a Subsidy
In the Netherlands, the safety, integrity, and maintenance of the roof (dakonderhoud) of a rental property is a fundamental and non-delegable responsibility of the landlord or the Vereniging van Eigenaars (VvE). There are no government subsidies or grants available to tenants (or landlords) to carry out basic safety-related roof maintenance. This is considered a standard cost of property ownership, which is covered by the basic rent (kale huur) the landlord receives. A landlord cannot claim they cannot afford to fix a leaking or unsafe roof because of a lack of a subsidy; it is their legal duty to ensure the property is wind and watertight.
What is Included in Roof Maintenance?
The landlord's duty covers all aspects of the roof's condition. This includes replacing broken or missing roof tiles (dakpannen), repairing leaks in flat roofing material (dakbedekking), ensuring the lead flashing (loodslabben) around chimneys and dormers is intact, and maintaining the structural integrity of the roof beams and supports. It also includes the regular cleaning of gutters, especially when they are not safely accessible to the tenant. Any failure in these areas that leads to leaks or drafts is considered a gebrek (defect) that the landlord must repair at their own expense.
What Subsidies Do Exist?
While there are no subsidies for basic roof safety, there are national and municipal subsidies available to property owners for making their roofs more sustainable. These are not for tenants to apply for. The most common examples are: 1. Green Roofs (Groene daken): Subsidies to help cover the cost of installing a roof with vegetation, which helps with rainwater management and biodiversity. 2. Solar Panels (Zonnepanelen): Various schemes to encourage the installation of solar panels. These subsidies are for property improvements and energy transition, not for fundamental, mandatory safety and maintenance.