Window Lock Provision

Security as a Feature, Not a Luxury\n\n### The Landlord's General Duty of Care\nWhile Dutch law does not contain a hyper-specific article stating 'all windows must have brand X locks,' the landlord's obligation to provide adequate security falls under their general duty to remedy defects (gebreken) and provide a property that is fit for its intended use. A property that is easily accessible to burglars due to broken or non-existent locks can be considered defective. The tenant has a right to a safe home, and this includes reasonable protection against unauthorized entry. What constitutes 'reasonable' is, of course, open to interpretation. In a ground-floor apartment in a high-crime area, the standard would be higher than for an apartment on the fourth floor. While many landlords do the bare minimum, tenants can and should insist on having functional locks on all accessible windows and doors as a basic condition of the tenancy.\n

The 'Politiekeurmerk Veilig Wonen' Standard\nA very useful, though not legally mandatory, benchmark for residential security in the Netherlands is the Politiekeurmerk Veilig Wonen (PKVW), or the Police Hallmark for Safe Living. This is a certification program that sets out specific requirements for locks, hinges, lighting, and other security features. A property that is PKVW-certified has been inspected and meets a high standard of burglary prevention. While a landlord is not legally required to meet this standard, it serves as an excellent guideline for tenants. If a tenant finds that their locks are flimsy and don't meet basic PKVW recommendations (e.g., they lack anti-core pulling protection), they can use this as leverage to argue that the landlord is failing in their duty to provide a secure home. Requesting the landlord to upgrade the security to PKVW standards is a reasonable demand, especially if there have been break-ins in the neighborhood.\n

Responsibility and Disputes\nThe initial provision of secure locks is the landlord's responsibility. If a lock breaks due to normal wear and tear, its repair or replacement is also the landlord's responsibility as part of major maintenance. However, if the tenant loses the keys, the cost of replacing the locks typically falls to the tenant. It is also the tenant's responsibility to use the locks provided. If a burglary occurs and the tenant had left a window open, the landlord cannot be held liable. If a dispute arises because a tenant feels the property is insecure and the landlord refuses to make improvements, the tenant could potentially take the case to the Huurcommissie. They could argue that the lack of security is a 'defect' that warrants a temporary rent reduction until the issue is fixed. This puts pressure on the landlord to act, transforming security from an optional extra into a required deliverable.