Landlord vs. Tenant in Rotterdam: Eviction Without Home Invasion
In Rotterdam, with its large rental market in districts such as Delfshaven and Feijenoord, a landlord may evict a tenant for rent arrears, but may never forcibly enter the property. Strict procedures involving a bailiff and the subdistrict court prevent vigilante action and protect vulnerable tenants in the port city.
Steps for Eviction in Rotterdam
- Repeated demand for payment of rent arrears, preferably with the assistance of Rotterdam rental teams.
- Summons before the Rotterdam subdistrict court (located at Schiedamse Vest).
- Urgent application: direct eviction order for swift resolution.
- Bailiff with police: the only permitted 'entry', often necessary for persistent defaulters in Rotterdam-Zuid.
What Is Not Allowed in Rotterdam
- Changing locks or blocking doors independently.
- Placing household goods on the street, even in busy neighbourhoods such as Oude Westen.
- Cutting off energy or water supplies, which is strictly enforced by the Municipality of Rotterdam.
Article 7:231 of the Dutch Civil Code explicitly prohibits landlords from taking the law into their own hands. Violation constitutes a criminal offence of home invasion, punishable by fines and damage claims. The Rotterdam Rent Tribunal may suspend rent in cases of illegal evictions. In 2023, the Rotterdam District Court dismissed 45% of rent arrears claims due to procedural errors, a higher rate than the national average, owing to a busy court docket.
Tip for Rotterdam landlords: consult the Legal Counter Rotterdam for advice. Tenants: report arrears to Woonbron or Vestia. Pay the rent, comply with the law, and avoid litigation in the Maasstad.