Deposit Rules for Room Rental and Shared Living in Rotterdam

In Rotterdam, with its vibrant student neighborhoods such as Kralingen and popular shared homes in Delfshaven and Rotterdam-South, strict deposit rules apply to room rentals to prevent abuse. The deposit may not exceed one month's rent (art. 7:232 CC), even with multiple housemates in a Rotterdam student flat or house. Each tenant pays separately, but the landlord manages one total sum. Specify in the contract which portion applies per room, especially for typical Rotterdam room deals via platforms such as Kamernet or Pararius. In case of damage, the landlord holds all tenants jointly and severally liable, but tenants settle this internally, for example in a WhatsApp group of housemates from Erasmus University. Required: a joint inspection report upon move-in and move-out, with signatures of all parties. If this document is missing, the landlord may not deduct from the deposit. Local platforms such as Kamernet and StudentenWoningNodig recommend depositing the deposit into an escrow account at a Rotterdam bank. Upon early departure, common due to flexible study or work contracts in the port city, the landlord must repay pro rata, minus demonstrable damage. Disputes are resolved via the Rent Tribunal in Rotterdam, with emphasis on 'normal wear and tear' such as wear due to the Rotterdam climate. Example: a stain on the carpet in a Feijenoord home caused by a housemate – only that person pays, not the entire group. Tenants can act collectively against unreasonable demands from landlords. The Good Landlordship Act (2023) requires Rotterdam landlords to be transparent, with extra attention to the tight rental market. Tip: use the model room rental contract with deposit clause from the central government, adapted to local Rotterdam rules via the municipal website. This way you avoid disputes in the Maasstad. (312 words)