Tenants' Rights Regarding Transfer Costs for New Rental Property

When moving to a new rental property in Rotterdam, transfer costs often arise, such as key money or cleaning costs. The Tenancy Act (CC 7:231) limits these to reasonable, verifiable expenses. Maximum key money: €100, cleaning €250 for heavily soiled property. In the Rotterdam rental market, with high demand in neighborhoods such as Delfshaven and Kralingen, landlords sometimes demand too much. Exercising rights: Request a cost overview prior to transfer. If the landlord refuses? Start mediation via Huurteam Rotterdam, which offers low-threshold assistance in the region. In case of escalation: Huurcommissie for binding advice, with locations in Rotterdam-Zuid. Practice: In Rotterdam, a tenant challenged €450 in costs for a property on the Nieuwe Binnenweg; the commission reduced it to €120. Important rule: Costs must be market-conform, no profit for the landlord. Avoid pitfalls by using a checklist: keys, meter readings, condition survey and check against Rotterdam rental rules such as the Housing Allocation Ordinance. This way you start stress-free in your new rental property in the port city.