Termination of Rental Agreement upon Divorce in Rotterdam

In Rotterdam, upon divorce or dissolution of a registered partnership, one partner may terminate the rental agreement prematurely pursuant to Article 7:272 DCC. The terminating party must prove that continuation is impossible due to changed circumstances, such as financial pressure in neighbourhoods like Charlois or Feijenoord. Procedure: file a request with the District Court of Rotterdam within a reasonable term after the judgment, seeking allocation of the tenancy. The ex-partner has a six-week period for consideration. Absent agreement, the judge decides based on income, duty of care, living situation and local factors such as waiting lists for social housing. Children receive absolute priority, especially in child-friendly neighbourhoods like IJsselmonde. Evidence: divorce judgment, income specifications and, if applicable, an extract from the Municipal Personal Records Database (BRP) of Rotterdam. In cases of joint tenancy, where both names appear on the contract of housing associations such as Woonbron or Vestia, additional rules apply. Practice in Rotterdam: approximately 45% of divorce cases involve rental disputes, due to the tight housing market. Advice: consult a family law attorney immediately via the Juridisch Loket Rotterdam for joint termination or division. The Municipality of Rotterdam provides urgent housing declarations for alternative accommodation in areas such as Prins Alexander. Prevent double housing costs and stress through timely action and use of local divorce counters. (218 words)