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Glossary

Key Legal Terms in Dutch Rentals

The Dutch housing market uses specific legal terms that every tenant and landlord should understand. From huurprijs and huurcommissie to eviction rules, these definitions clarify your rights and responsibilities. Our guide helps you navigate the legal language of renting in the Netherlands with confidence.

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Showing 1–24 of 145 rental terms

Pest Control

The responsibility for dealing with pests, a contentious issue that depends on the cause of the infestation rather than the type of pest.

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Lease Renewal

The process of extending a lease, a concept that works differently in the Netherlands compared to many other countries due to the nature of Dutch rental contracts.

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Co-Tenant

A person who is not on the original lease but has the same legal rights and obligations as the main tenant, a status that is acquired, not automatically granted.

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Non-Owner Occupation Clause

A contract clause stating the landlord does not occupy the property, which limits their liability for certain defects and signals you are renting from an investor.

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Commercial vs. Residential Lease Types

An explanation of why commercial lease terms like 'net lease' or 'gross lease' are not used in the Dutch residential market, where a different system applies.

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Property and Residency Registration

The crucial distinction between the official ownership registry (Kadaster) and the municipal residency registry (BRP), the latter being essential for every tenant.

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Housing Permits and Licenses

Official municipal permits that can be required to legally occupy or rent out a property, creating a complex regulatory layer in many Dutch cities.

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Lease vs. Licence Agreement

A critical legal distinction where landlords may use a 'licence' to circumvent the extensive protections offered by a standard lease agreement.

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Holding Over and Tacit Renewal

The act of a tenant remaining in a property after their contract ends, a situation with major legal consequences in the Netherlands, especially for temporary leases.

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Lease Transfer and Subletting

The complex and highly restricted ways a tenant can transfer their lease or sublet their property, which almost always require the landlord's explicit permission.

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Rent Indexation (CPI Adjustment)

The common method for annually adjusting rent in the free sector, based on a national inflation figure that can be confusing and controversial.

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Data Privacy Compliance (GDPR)

The legal obligation for landlords and agents to handle tenants' personal data securely and transparently, as mandated by the GDPR.

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Dispute Resolution Mechanism

The official legal bodies, primarily the Rent Tribunal and the courts, that provide binding solutions to disputes between tenants and landlords.

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Rent Adjustment

The annual change in rent, a process strictly regulated by the Dutch government with different rules for the social and free sectors.

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Subordination Agreement

A 'subordination agreement' is a highly technical legal document, irrelevant to residential tenants due to the powerful Dutch principle that 'sale does not break rent'.

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Rider to Lease

A 'rider' is a US legal term for an addendum that adds specific clauses to a lease; in the Netherlands, it is part of the contract but cannot override mandatory tenant rights.

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Side Letter

A 'side letter' is an informal agreement made alongside a lease, but it is a risky practice as its legal enforceability can be ambiguous.

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Lease Addendum

A lease addendum ('addendum') is a document that adds new clauses or information to a rental agreement and is legally binding if agreed upon by both parties.

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Lease Amendment Agreement

A lease amendment ('wijziging van de huurovereenkomst') is a formal, written agreement to change the terms of an existing lease, which requires the consent of both landlord and tenant.

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Lease Extension Agreement

A 'lease extension agreement' for a temporary Dutch lease does not create another temporary term but legally transforms it into a permanent, indefinite lease.

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Renewal Lease Agreement

A 'renewal lease agreement' is not a standard Dutch concept; extending a fixed-term lease legally converts it into a secure, indefinite contract.

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Option to Renew Lease

An 'option to renew' is a largely irrelevant concept for Dutch residential leases, as they either continue indefinitely by law or automatically convert to an indefinite status.

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Option to Purchase Lease

An 'option to purchase' clause in a lease ('koopoptie') is a non-standard and rare feature in Dutch residential rentals that must be legally reviewed before signing.

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Lease Option Agreement

A lease option agreement ('huur met koopoptie') gives a tenant the right, but not the obligation, to purchase the property, making it a less risky alternative to a lease purchase.

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