Key Money in Rotterdam Home Purchases: Avoiding Hidden Costs

When purchasing a home in Rotterdam, key money is often disguised as 'transfer costs' or 'service costs for new locks', but this is legally contestable. According to the law on the sale of movable and immovable property (Civil Code Book 3 and 7), all additional costs, including key money, must be explicitly and transparently stated in the purchase agreement. In Rotterdam, where the housing market is vibrant with transactions in neighborhoods such as Kralingen, Delfshaven, and Kop van Zuid, this issue arises regularly, especially with older townhouses or new builds along the Maas. Key money is not a standard fee, unless it concerns duplicates for multiple residents or an explicitly agreed lock change. Reasons for recovery in the Rotterdam context: If the seller promised to install new locks but reused old keys, or if the amount exceeds the market-conform price (on average €75-€100 in the region, depending on the neighborhood). Procedure for Rotterdam buyers: Send a registered letter immediately after transfer with a demand for repayment within 14 days, referring to CC 7:17 and 6:248 on misleading information. In case of refusal: Initiate proceedings at the District Court Rotterdam via summons; the sub-district judge in the region handles this efficiently. Case study from Rotterdam: A buyer in Feijenoord paid €200 'key money' when purchasing a terraced house, but discovered that the seller had reused old keys without new locks. After a registered demand letter and summons, the District Court Rotterdam ruled in favor of the buyer, with repayment plus interest, referring to misleading information in the compromise deed. Tip for Rotterdam residents: Have a local notary, such as from the network of the Royal Netherlands Notaries Association in South Holland, check the deed for hidden clauses. This way, you avoid unnecessary expenses in your home transaction in this dynamic port city.