There’s very little to be found about buildings and construction in Dutch law, and so several sets of general conditions have been developed in construction practice.
These include the UAV 2012, the UAV-gc 2005, the DNR 2011 and RVIO 2001. These general conditions apply to common legal relationships and types of contracts in the construction industry. GMW lawyers can draw up these contracts on your behalf or check them for pitfalls. The same applies for the general conditions.
Disagreement or a dispute with a business party can arise despite the fact that a contract and general conditions have been drawn up. In that case you can also turn to GMW lawyers for help. We can point out the mutual rights and obligations of the parties and we’re aware of the limitations of liability and the possible legal consequences of the actions of the other contractual party. In addition, we can reveal the rights and risks involved and support you with adopting a strong legal position.
If you encounter building defects or problems upon completion, or if your (sub)contractor fails to meet his agreements, or you are actually trying to preempt a building-related dispute at an early stage, feel free to contact GMW lawyers.
Many parties can be involved in the purchase of a new dwelling or in the conversion of your existing home. They often have a great deal of specialist knowledge. For example, if you are buying a new home, you will have to deal with an estate agent, a project developer or a contractor. If you are converting your own home, (sub)contractors, builders, engineers and possibly a building manager will play a role, depending on the size of the project.
Defects, building errors, breaches of contract and guarantees can lead to problems at every stage of the building process. GMW lawyers can give advice and mediate in order to find solutions together with the other parties. If discussions do not lead to any results, you can rely on our extensive experience of court proceedings. Arbitration is the most common course of action, usually with the Foundation for Consumer Complaints Boards or the Court of Arbitration for the Building Industry in the Netherlands. But our lawyers also often institute proceedings before courts and courts of law.
GMW lawyers will be happy to help you with all your real estate issues. If you have any questions, please contact us directly using the enquiry form below or +31 (0)70 3615048. Our real estate law lawyers will be glad to support and advise you.
GMW advocaten will be happy to help you. Do you have a question or want legal advice? Feel free to contact us.
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19 February 2026
The effect of a conversion notice in contracts for works
Suppose a contractor has been engaged under a contract for works, but a problem arises during the execution of those works. Unfortunately, this happens quite often. If the parties are unable to resolve the issue together, it is advisable to consider legal steps. Below is a practical explanation and five useful tips.
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29 January 2026
Another brick in the wall
Are you planning to build or renovate? If so, a number of questions arise straight away: which type of agreement for contracting works is best for you? Do you opt for a fixed contract price, a target price, or a contract based on hours worked? Are any general terms and conditions applicable and, if so, which ones? Below is a practical guideline.
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8 January 2026
Rent and valuation fictions in the WOZ Act: how does it actually work?
The WOZ value of a property is its estimated market value. In other words, it is the price that would be paid by the highest bidder if the property were sold in the best possible way. Each year, the municipality determines this value and assigns it to a property on the basis of sale prices of comparable properties in the area.
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17 December 2025
The penalty clause in a property purchase agreement
Buying a home is not something most people do every day. It is therefore important that both parties understand the obligations arising from a property purchase agreement.
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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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6 November 2025
The second opinion procedure in appeal
Since 2013, the Court of Appeal in The Hague has offered the second opinion procedure in appeal cases. This procedure aims to provide parties with a faster and less expensive reassessment of their case, as an alternative to the regular appeal procedure. This article discusses the legal basis, process, and the (dis)advantages of the procedure.
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17 September 2025
Rent increase following the sustainability upgrade of a property
More and more property owners are becoming aware of the need to make their homes more sustainable. There are various sustainability measures they can take.
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20 August 2025
On second thought
The statutory reflection period when purchasing a property
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6 August 2025
Amendment of contracts
In contract law, the principle of pacta sunt servanda applies. This Latin phrase means that agreements must generally be fulfilled. Although this rule is not explicitly stated in the law, it forms the basis for the legal obligations arising from contracts.
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