Renting residential property is a process that many of us face at some time in our lives.
For internationals, understanding the rights and obligations you have as a tenant in another country is especially difficult. GMW lawyers has a team of experts in Dutch tenancy law who can advise and support you in this regard.
Are you considering renting a home? Generally you will receive a draft rental agreement from the landlord. This will contain, amongst other things, the address, the rental price and the duration of the contract (for a specific or indeterminate period). How do you know whether the provisions are correct and have been correctly formulated? In many cases the rental contract will contain unilateral provisions which are to the landlord’s advantage. Therefore it is important for you to know what you are signing. We will be pleased to go through the rental contract with you and help you avoid conflicts in the future.
Many things can go wrong during the rental period. For example, the landlord may refuse to repair a leak. Can you hold the landlord accountable as a tenant? Can you stop making rental payments or carry out the repairs yourself and deduct the costs? Can your landlord simply terminate the lease? To avoid these sorts of questions, phone and ask for advice. We can explain what your rights are and how you can enforce these in a single telephone call without any obligation.
GMW lawyers will be happy to help you with all your tenancy issues. If you have any questions, please contact us directly using the enquiry form below or +31 (0)70 3615048. Our tenancy law lawyers will be glad to support and advise you.
GMW lawyers is happy to assist you with specialist knowledge and experience in the field of tenancy law. Please contact our team of experts for support.
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1 October 2026
Nuisance caused by tenants: what is the role of the landlord?
This article takes a closer look at the responsibilities of a landlord in the event of nuisance, the approach the landlord can take, and the measures the landlord can adopt. See also: five useful tips.
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18 August 2026
Termination of a commercial lease due to urgent own use
To successfully rely on the termination ground of urgent own use (Article 7:296(1)(b) of the Dutch Civil Code), the landlord of 7:290 BW business premises (including hospitality and retail premises) must make it sufficiently plausible that they intend to take the leased property into urgent, personal, and durable use.
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23 July 2026
The Affordable Rent Act in brief
Earlier, we published a blog post about the then unimplemented Affordable Rent Act. Before the Act entered into force on 1 July 2024, it attracted considerable criticism, including from landlord organisations, De Nederlandsche Bank, the Council of State and the Netherlands Bar Association. That criticism still stands after years.
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15 June 2026
The ’diplomatic clause’ in rental contracts, a way in or a way out?
Whilst most words deriving from ’diplomacy’ are buzzwords evoking immunity and exemptions applicable to a chosen few, there is at least one usage that makes reference to duties rather than privileges.
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4 June 2026
When may a landlord enter a rented dwelling?
A question we often receive: “May I enter the property I have rented out without the tenant’s permission?” Landlords naturally want to know whether their property is being properly maintained and whether the tenant is using it in accordance with the agreed terms.
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27 May 2026
The rights of the child in eviction proceedings involving a residential property
On 28 November 2025, the Dutch Supreme Court answered preliminary questions regarding the role of children’s rights in claims seeking the eviction of a rented property. This article discusses the background to these questions, the key considerations of the Supreme Court and the consequences for legal practice.
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23 April 2026
Changes to The Hague Housing Regulation: apartment splitting and lodger rental
The Municipality of The Hague has adjusted its regulations with a view to creating more housing without new construction, while preserving liveability.
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30 March 2026
Who’s that girl? – Prohibited subletting and eviction
In principle, a tenant of residential accommodation is not allowed to sublet the property to another person.
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20 November 2025
Can you claim compensation for non-material damage under Dutch real estate and tenancy law?
In recent years, we have received an increasing number of questions about compensation for non-material (immaterial) damage. Expats in particular are often used to the idea that, alongside compensation for material loss, there is also scope for compensation for more abstract harm, such as anxiety, distress, or impact on private life.
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