Permissible Service Costs According to Rental Legislation in Leiden

Not all costs may be passed on as service costs to tenants in Leiden. According to the Rental Act (Article 7:257 of the Dutch Civil Code), they must be reasonable and market-conformant, which is strictly enforced in Leiden by the Rental Committee and local tenant teams. Permitted are advances for maintenance, cleaning, lifts, and garden maintenance in complexes such as those around the centre or in neighbourhoods like Stevenshof and Merenwijk. Prohibited remain income-replacement costs such as vacancy or non-payment. Energy costs for common areas in Leiden apartment buildings are permitted, but not for individual meters. Insurance premiums only if they are specifically for the landlord, taking into account local risks such as river flooding. Management costs may amount to a maximum of 15-20% of the total service costs, depending on the complex size – often lower in smaller Leiden properties. The settlement must be specified per category with invoices, and tenants in Leiden can have this checked free of charge at the Legal Aid Office or Huurteam Leiden. Tenants do not bear costs for structural maintenance that falls under major repairs, such as in monumental buildings in the historic city centre. Check whether costs are allocated to tenants in proportion to surface area or consumption, fitting for Leiden rental properties. In case of excess of the advance, the law requires repayment within six weeks. Unlawful pass-through can lead to rent reduction via the Rental Committee. In Leiden, standards from industry agreements and local pilots for affordable rent are applied. Check the tenancy agreement: which costs are agreed for your Leiden address? This way you avoid disputes with landlords and only pay what is lawful. (248 words)