Tenant Rights Upon Expiry of Temporary Rental Contract in Rotterdam

In Rotterdam, with its vibrant port district and busy housing market, the tenant has specific rights upon the expiry of a temporary rental contract. According to Article 7:271 of the Dutch Civil Code (BW), the contract ends automatically on the agreed date, without notice of termination. The landlord may not unilaterally extend without your consent. If you wish to remain in your Rotterdam property, for example in neighbourhoods such as Delfshaven or Kralingen, request extension in writing in a timely manner. Otherwise, you risk eviction via the district court (kantonrechter). Important: during the term, full rent protection applies, including the Rotterdam rent price ceiling and the landlord's maintenance obligation, strictly enforced by the municipality. In case of eviction, you are entitled to at least one month's notice period, unless otherwise agreed. Consult the Huurcommissie or the Juridisch Loket Rotterdam in case of disputes. Examples: temporary contracts for expats in the skyline of the Kop van Zuid or during renovations in the district of Feijenoord. Document all correspondence with your landlord, such as Woonbron or Vestia. If the landlord does not respond, proceed to the Rotterdam district court (kantonrechter) for continuation. Note: for housing association properties, stricter rules apply under the Housing Act (Woningwet) and the Rotterdam Housing Allocation Ordinance (Huisvestingsverordening), with priority for urgent cases. This way, the city protects vulnerable tenants against speculation on the tight market. (248 words)