Service Charges and Rent Increases in Regulated Rental Housing in Rotterdam

In Rotterdam, service charges are separate from the bare rent increase in the regulated sector. Landlords such as Woonbron, Vestia, or Havensteder may index these annually, but exclusively on the basis of documented increases such as higher energy costs due to Rotterdam port activities or maintenance of iconic neighborhoods like Delfshaven. As a tenant in Rotterdam, you are entitled to a detailed specification per 1 July, including advance payment and final calculation. Unsure about the calculation? Refuse payment and immediately file a complaint with the Rent Tribunal in Rotterdam. In social rental housing in Rotterdam neighborhoods such as Feijenoord or Charlois, service charges may not exceed 15% of the bare rent. For housing association properties, a strict transparency requirement applies via the Rotterdam tender contracts. In the transitional sector, cost increases are limited to proven inflation, with extra attention to the pressure on the Rotterdam housing market. Rent allowance covers service charges in part, especially for starters in the city. In case of dispute, the Rotterdam district court rules on reasonableness and fairness. Keep all invoices and compare with neighbors in your complex or block – in Rotterdam high-rise buildings, this is crucial. Even during corona, temporary relaxations applied to Rotterdam tenants, but now there is stricter control on usurious rates by the municipality. This way, you prevent unexpected cost increases in this vibrant port city.