Rental Dispute Procedure at the Canton Court in Rotterdam

The rental dispute procedure at the canton court in Rotterdam is the formal route when rental mediation via the Juridisch Loket Rotterdam or the Huurteam Rotterdam fails. Tenants and landlords in neighborhoods such as Delfshaven, Feijenoord or Charlois summon each other for matters such as eviction, rent reduction or defects in rental properties (BW Book 7, Title 4). In Rotterdam, with its large social housing sector via Vestia and Woonbron, this often arises in cases of maintenance arrears in older apartment buildings. Procedure: summons via the registry of the Rechtbank Rotterdam (Piet de Witlaan 49), defense, hearing with witness examinations and judgment. Court fees range from €85 to €500, plus lawyer optional via subsidized legal aid. Term: 4-12 months, accelerated in urgent eviction cases in the expedited procedure. Evidence is crucial: photos of mold spots, repair invoices, emails with landlord. The Rotterdam judge may order mediation during the process, often in collaboration with the Woonoverleg Rotterdam. Outcome: judgment with penalty payments for non-compliance. Tenants in Rotterdam enjoy strongly protected tenant law; landlord must prove 'reasonable ground', especially for temporary contracts in the port city. Pre-litigation step: Huurcommissie for rent price review, or local Huurteam for advice. Advantages: free legal aid for low incomes via the Juridisch Loket Rotterdam, precedent effect in regional cases. Disadvantages: time-consuming and costly due to the full court roll. Tip: prepare your file well at the Juridisch Loket Rotterdam or Huurteam Rotterdam. In 2023, the Rotterdam canton court handled over 3,500 rental cases, an increase due to the housing shortage. Choose this route if amicable settlement via local mediators fails, for a definitive solution in the Maasstad.