Question 1

Can I terminate the tenancy agreement if I want to move back into my property?

Accepted Answer

That depends on the type of tenancy agreement. If everything is properly arranged in advance, the tenancy agreement can indeed be terminated when the landlord wishes to return to the rented property. However, this always depends on a correctly drafted agreement and the applicable conditions.

Question 2

What is the period of notice?

Accepted Answer

You can find the period of notice in the tenancy agreement. The period of notice is always expressed in calendar months; please also see the question “What is meant by a period of notice of one or more calendar month(s)?”

Question 3

What is meant by a period of notice of one or more calendar month(s)?

Accepted Answer

Periods of notice are usually expressed in calendar months. This means a period that runs from the first up to and including the last day of a month. It therefore makes no difference if notice is given at the start, halfway through or at the end of the month, the period of notice will always start after the last day of the month in which notice is given. Example: notice is given on a tenancy agreement on 15 March and a period of notice of one calendar month applies. In this case, the tenancy agreement ends on 30 April.

Question 4

Can a tenancy agreement be terminated prematurely?

Accepted Answer

This depends on the type of rental agreement and the terms agreed between tenant and landlord. The termination conditions are outlined in the rental agreement.

Termination is not allowed during a fixed initial rental period, which often applies to contracts for indefinite term.

For landlords, giving notice is usually only allowed at the end of a rental period – and only if there is a lawful reason.

Need more information? Contact the landlord or property manager.

Question 5

What is a diplomatic clause?

Accepted Answer

Officially, the term diplomatic clause is used for the article in a tenancy agreement stipulating that the landlord is temporarily letting out their own home and will take up residence in it again after the end of the tenancy agreement. However, in the rental property market the term is also used for a clause that gives the tenant the right to terminate a tenancy agreement prematurely if there are urgent job-related reasons for doing so or in the event of circumstances beyond the tenant’s control.

Question 6

Can a landlord terminate the lease to sell the property?

Accepted Answer

In most cases, a landlord cannot simply terminate the rental agreement if he/she wishes to sell the property. Termination of the rental period for this specific reason can only be done if the property was rented out under the Vacancy Act, for example.

Read our blog and wacht our video to discover the complete answer.

Question 7

How can the tenancy agreement be terminated?

Accepted Answer

If you're a tenant and want to terminate the rental agreement, this must be done with a signed notice letter. You’ll find a standard example here.

Make sure to follow the agreed notice period. Termination is only possible at the end of a calendar month (so if notice is sent on, for example, 14 March, it will be treated as if sent on 31 March).

Are there multiple tenants listed on the agreement? Then each tenant must sign the notice individually. According to the rental agreement, the letter must be sent by bailiff’s writ or registered mail.

Always check with your landlord or property manager whether a signed notice by email (with confirmation of receipt) is also accepted.

Question 8

From what date can the tenancy agreement be terminated?

Accepted Answer

Many tenancy agreements include a period in which the agreement may not be terminated. The tenancy agreement states the date from which it may be terminated. The dates in the tenancy agreement are always termination dates so if, for instance, the tenancy agreement gives 30 April as an end date and you wish to terminate it as of that date, the landlord/manager will need to receive your notice no later than 31 March.

Question 9

Can a landlord terminate the tenancy agreement?

Accepted Answer

That depends on the type of rental agreement and the terms agreed between tenant and landlord.

In a standard rental agreement for indefinite period, the landlord can only terminate based on a legal ground. Examples include urgent personal use—which must be clearly substantiated by the landlord—or non-payment by the tenant. This type of contract is based on the idea of a long-term rental relationship.

For a fixed-term agreement of up to two years (self contained housing), termination is more straightforward: the landlord only needs to send a timely notice to let the contract end on the agreed date.

In other temporary agreements, the landlord can give notice effective on the end date as stated in the contract. In that case, a notice period of three calendar months applies, plus one extra month for each full year the tenant has lived in the property (with a maximum of six months).

The key takeaway: always check the rental agreement for the specific arrangements. Not sure? Contact your rental agent or property manager.

Question 10

Terminating a tenancy agreement, how does that work again?

Accepted Answer

The type of tenancy agreement that has been concluded determines the date from which the tenant or landlord is permitted to terminate it and the applicable periods of notice.Notice must always be given in writing. It must be indisputably clear to both parties that notice has been given and reached the other party. The most common method of giving notice is still by registered post. A bailiff’s notification is a more expensive option but is sometimes used if there’s uncertainty about whether a registered letter would reach the other party in good time. There’s also jurisprudence to indicate that giving digital notice via E-mail or WhatsApp message is also correct as the other party will then need to prove that they didn’t receive it in good time, but this is rather a grey area that might need to be resolved in court in the event of a difference of opinion.For the complete answer, check out our blog.

Question 11

How much tax would I be paying for letting my property in Lisse?

Accepted Answer

How much tax you'll be paying for letting your property in Lisse depends on your situation: whether it's your own home or a second property; whether you'll be letting temporarily or permanently; the costs of maintenance; the rental income, etc. It's a good idea to reach out to a tax advisor for a detailed calculation of the taxes you'd owe before letting out a property in Lisse.

Question 12

Who pays the municipal taxes in Hillegom?

Accepted Answer

It’s important to know who pays which municipal taxes if you want to rent out your property in Hillegom. In Hillegom, the property tax is paid by the owner. The tenant pays the waste and sewage tax.

Question 13

How much tax would I be paying for letting my property in Alphen aan den Rijn?

Accepted Answer

How much tax you'll be paying for letting your property in Alphen aan den Rijn depends on your situation: whether it's your own home or a second property; whether you'll be letting temporarily or permanently; the costs of maintenance; the rental income, etc. It's a good idea to reach out to a tax advisor for a detailed calculation of the taxes you'd owe before letting out a property in Alphen aan den Rijn.

Question 14

How much tax would I be paying for letting my property in Haarlemmermeer?

Accepted Answer

How much tax you'll be paying for letting your property in Haarlemmermeer depends on your situation: whether it's your own home or a second property; whether you'll be letting temporarily or permanently; the costs of maintenance; the rental income, etc. It's a good idea to reach out to a tax advisor for a detailed calculation of the taxes you'd owe before letting out a property in Haarlemmermeer.

Question 15

How much rental income can I expect if I were to hire a letting agent in Noordwijk?

Accepted Answer

The amount of rental income in Noordwijk, depends on several factors - the neighborhood, the state of the property, the type of property and the costs of maintenance, etc. The situation on the market in Noordwijk also helps determine the rental income. Our letting agent in Noordwijk can advise you and help determine a realistic rent price.

Question 16

Who pays the municipal taxes in Oegstgeest?

Accepted Answer

It’s important to know who pays which municipal taxes if you want to rent out your property in Oegstgeest. In Oegstgeest, the property tax is paid by the owner. The tenant pays the waste and sewage tax.

Question 17

Do I have to inform my mortgage provider if I want to rent out my property in Kaag and Braassem?

Accepted Answer

In nearly all cases, you'll have to inform your mortage providor, as well as ask permission to rent out the property. Especially if it's a property with a regular mortage. In most cases, the mortgage conditions will say that the property is intented for personal use. If you were to let out the property without permission, you run the risk of them ending the mortage, or demanding the entire amount paid back in full.

Question 18

What to do in the event of a leak

Accepted Answer

PipesFirst of all, shut off the mains water supply as quickly as possible by turning off the stop valve. This can often be found next to the water meter inside the property or in the meter box. Open all the taps on the ground floor (if there is one) to remove surplus water from the pipes. Mop up as much water as possible in order to prevent further damage. Report the leak to the landlord/manager so that a technician can be called in.Sewerage/wasteIs the leak caused by a blockage? If so, the blockage needs to be dealt with first. Please see the question “What to do in the event of a blockage?”. If there’s no blockage or the cause cannot be established, the leak needs to be reported to the landlord/manager, including a photo/video that clearly shows the location of the leak.Leak caused by heavy rainfallThis type of leak needs to be reported to the landlord/manager immediately. A leaking roof is often caused by a blocked rainwater drain/gutter. The tenant is responsible for ensuring drainpipes do not become blocked. It’s important to check gutters and rainwater drains twice a year and keep them clean.

Question 19

What to do about problems with domestic appliances

Accepted Answer

First check our frequently asked questions (FAQs) to see if the defect is included in the list.There are a few things you can check for yourself first:

Is the appliance plugged in (properly)?
Check the fuse box: have any of the switches tripped?
Does resetting the appliance help? Some appliances have a reset function for this. Others need to have the power switched off for 30 minutes.
Are the filters blocked or do they need cleaning?

If you’ve tried all of this and the problem still hasn’t been resolved, you can report the problem (preferably by E-mail) to the landlord/manager. Don’t forget to state what you’ve already done to try and rectify the situation, any specific error codes, when the problem started, the frequency of the problem etc. Send this together with photos/videos, including of the appliance’s model sticker. This can usually be found on the edge of the door, inside or on the rear of the appliance.

Question 20

What to do in the event of a blocked drain

Accepted Answer

First try to remove the blockage by pouring a bucket of hot water and sodium bicarbonate (baking soda) into the blocked drain and letting it sit for a while. We advise against using other unblocking agents as these can damage the pipes. If hot water and sodium bicarbonate don’t work, a professional drain cleaning service needs to be called. The costs for this are in principle for the account of the tenant unless the cause of the blockage lies outside the property.Prevention is better than a cure, so make sure you use drains in the correct manner. Items that definitely shouldn’t be disposed of in drains include:

Leftover food
Rubbish
Kitchen towel and wet wipes
Hygiene products
Excessive amounts of toilet paper
Grease and hair

Question 21

What to do about damage caused by a leak

Accepted Answer

The damage can only be repaired once everything has dried out thoroughly. This depends on many factors and will certainly take a few weeks. Moreover, in many cases the landlord/manager will in turn be dependent on an insurer.

Question 22

Is an appraisal mandatory when purchasing or selling a property?

Accepted Answer

Read our blog or watch our video for the answer.

Question 23

What does a caretaker do?

Accepted Answer

Read our blog and wacht our video to find out the answer.

Question 24

What to do if the heating isn’t working or there’s no hot water?

Accepted Answer

First of all, determine which system is heated or supplying your home with hot water. Regardless of the type of appliance, there are a number of things that must be checked to determine the cause of the malfunction (also watch our instruction video):

Are the fuses still intact and is the Residual Current Device (RCD, or residual current circuit breaker) in your meter cupboard still on?
Is the thermostat working? It can be that the batteries are empty or that the wireless connection has been lost, so that no signal is passed on to the boiler. See the thermostat manual to find out how to solve this.
Is the temperature on the room thermostat set high enough?
Does the thermostat have a digital display? Check if it shows strange messages/error codes. If so, find out what it means in the manual.
Have the (thermostat) knobs of the radiators been turned open and have the radiators been bled? For more information about venting the installation, see the question “How can the heating system be bled?”.
Are there any hot water taps leaking somewhere?
Has it been extremely cold outside or is it now? Then it may be that the pipes are or have been frozen. If you suspect this, please contact us immediately.

If the above matters are all in order and your home is heated/supplied with hot water by a central heating unit, the unit itself can be examined for malfunctions:

Is the gas valve open? If no, then open this one unless there is a reason why the gas valve has been turned off.
Is the power plug in the socket? If no, plug it in unless there is some reason why the power has been interrupted.
In case of an older type of boiler: does the pilot light burn? If not, look in the manual of the boiler or contact your landlord/manager.
In case of a more modern boiler: is a fault reported on the display? If so, find out what the malfunction is in the manual and how you can solve it yourself.
Is the water pressure high enough? The pressure must be between 1.5 and 2 bar. If the pressure is too low, please refer to the question “How to top up the central heating boiler when the pressure gets too low?”.
Does the boiler and/or radiators produce a strange noise? Then it may be that the heating system has to be bled. For this, look as stated above under the question “How can the heating system be bled?”.
Is there no demonstrable reason for the malfunction? Then reset the installation by pressing the reset button or removing the plug from the socket for 30 minutes.

If the malfunction cannot be resolved despite the tips mentioned above, the malfunction can be reported (preferably by e-mail) to the landlord/manager. Indicate what you’ve already tried yourself, whether there are certain error codes, since when the problem has occurred, what the frequency of the problem is, etc. Also include photos/videos to clarify the problem.

Question 25

What to do in the event of nuisance/noise caused by third parties?

Accepted Answer

Our initial advice is to approach the person causing the nuisance, explain to them in a friendly manner that their behaviour is bothering you and ask them to stop. It may be that the person causing the nuisance has no idea of the impact their behaviour is having. If this fails to yield results (after repeated attempts), you can turn to the police or municipality. You can report this to the landlord/manager but they have no influence over nuisance caused by third parties.

Question 26

What to do about condensation in the fridge

Accepted Answer

The first thing to do is clear the condensation drain. It’s likely that this is blocked. You’ll find the condensation drain at the bottom and rear inside of the fridge. It’s also a good idea not to place products against the side or rear walls of the fridge or overfill it.

Question 27

What to do if the gas cooker or hob stops working

Accepted Answer

In the event of problems with gas installations, the most important thing is to establish whether there is a leak. It’s usually easy to smell a gas leak. If this is the case, immediately turn off the gas at the mains (this will be near the gas meter) and phone the National service number 0800-9009. A sputtering gas hob or one that isn’t working is often caused by dirt. Clean the separate components of the gas hob, making sure you dry everything thoroughly before putting it back together and checking whether the problem has been resolved. If not, notify your landlord/manager by E-mail and include more information and photos of the model/brand so that a technician can be called in if necessary.

Question 28

What to do in the event of a leak

Accepted Answer

PipesFirst of all, shut off the mains water supply as quickly as possible by turning off the stop valve. This can often be found next to the water meter inside the property or in the meter box. Open all the taps on the ground floor (if there is one) to remove surplus water from the pipes. Mop up as much water as possible in order to prevent further damage. Report the leak to the landlord/manager so that a technician can be called in.Sewerage/wasteIs the leak caused by a blockage? If so, the blockage needs to be dealt with first. Please see the question “What to do in the event of a blockage?”. If there’s no blockage or the cause cannot be established, the leak needs to be reported to the landlord/manager, including a photo/video that clearly shows the location of the leak.Leak caused by heavy rainfallThis type of leak needs to be reported to the landlord/manager immediately. A leaking roof is often caused by a blocked rainwater drain/gutter. The tenant is responsible for ensuring drainpipes do not become blocked. It’s important to check gutters and rainwater drains twice a year and keep them clean.

Question 29

What to do about problems with domestic appliances

Accepted Answer

First check our frequently asked questions (FAQs) to see if the defect is included in the list.There are a few things you can check for yourself first:

Is the appliance plugged in (properly)?
Check the fuse box: have any of the switches tripped?
Does resetting the appliance help? Some appliances have a reset function for this. Others need to have the power switched off for 30 minutes.
Are the filters blocked or do they need cleaning?

If you’ve tried all of this and the problem still hasn’t been resolved, you can report the problem (preferably by E-mail) to the landlord/manager. Don’t forget to state what you’ve already done to try and rectify the situation, any specific error codes, when the problem started, the frequency of the problem etc. Send this together with photos/videos, including of the appliance’s model sticker. This can usually be found on the edge of the door, inside or on the rear of the appliance.

Question 30

What to do in the event of a blocked drain

Accepted Answer

First try to remove the blockage by pouring a bucket of hot water and sodium bicarbonate (baking soda) into the blocked drain and letting it sit for a while. We advise against using other unblocking agents as these can damage the pipes. If hot water and sodium bicarbonate don’t work, a professional drain cleaning service needs to be called. The costs for this are in principle for the account of the tenant unless the cause of the blockage lies outside the property.Prevention is better than a cure, so make sure you use drains in the correct manner. Items that definitely shouldn’t be disposed of in drains include:

Leftover food
Rubbish
Kitchen towel and wet wipes
Hygiene products
Excessive amounts of toilet paper
Grease and hair

Question 31

What to do about damage caused by a leak

Accepted Answer

The damage can only be repaired once everything has dried out thoroughly. This depends on many factors and will certainly take a few weeks. Moreover, in many cases the landlord/manager will in turn be dependent on an insurer.

Question 32

Is an appraisal mandatory when purchasing or selling a property?

Accepted Answer

Read our blog or watch our video for the answer.

Question 33

What does a caretaker do?

Accepted Answer

Read our blog and wacht our video to find out the answer.

Question 34

What to do if the heating isn’t working or there’s no hot water?

Accepted Answer

First of all, determine which system is heated or supplying your home with hot water. Regardless of the type of appliance, there are a number of things that must be checked to determine the cause of the malfunction (also watch our instruction video):

Are the fuses still intact and is the Residual Current Device (RCD, or residual current circuit breaker) in your meter cupboard still on?
Is the thermostat working? It can be that the batteries are empty or that the wireless connection has been lost, so that no signal is passed on to the boiler. See the thermostat manual to find out how to solve this.
Is the temperature on the room thermostat set high enough?
Does the thermostat have a digital display? Check if it shows strange messages/error codes. If so, find out what it means in the manual.
Have the (thermostat) knobs of the radiators been turned open and have the radiators been bled? For more information about venting the installation, see the question “How can the heating system be bled?”.
Are there any hot water taps leaking somewhere?
Has it been extremely cold outside or is it now? Then it may be that the pipes are or have been frozen. If you suspect this, please contact us immediately.

If the above matters are all in order and your home is heated/supplied with hot water by a central heating unit, the unit itself can be examined for malfunctions:

Is the gas valve open? If no, then open this one unless there is a reason why the gas valve has been turned off.
Is the power plug in the socket? If no, plug it in unless there is some reason why the power has been interrupted.
In case of an older type of boiler: does the pilot light burn? If not, look in the manual of the boiler or contact your landlord/manager.
In case of a more modern boiler: is a fault reported on the display? If so, find out what the malfunction is in the manual and how you can solve it yourself.
Is the water pressure high enough? The pressure must be between 1.5 and 2 bar. If the pressure is too low, please refer to the question “How to top up the central heating boiler when the pressure gets too low?”.
Does the boiler and/or radiators produce a strange noise? Then it may be that the heating system has to be bled. For this, look as stated above under the question “How can the heating system be bled?”.
Is there no demonstrable reason for the malfunction? Then reset the installation by pressing the reset button or removing the plug from the socket for 30 minutes.

If the malfunction cannot be resolved despite the tips mentioned above, the malfunction can be reported (preferably by e-mail) to the landlord/manager. Indicate what you’ve already tried yourself, whether there are certain error codes, since when the problem has occurred, what the frequency of the problem is, etc. Also include photos/videos to clarify the problem.

Question 35

What to do in the event of nuisance/noise caused by third parties?

Accepted Answer

Our initial advice is to approach the person causing the nuisance, explain to them in a friendly manner that their behaviour is bothering you and ask them to stop. It may be that the person causing the nuisance has no idea of the impact their behaviour is having. If this fails to yield results (after repeated attempts), you can turn to the police or municipality. You can report this to the landlord/manager but they have no influence over nuisance caused by third parties.

Question 36

What to do about condensation in the fridge

Accepted Answer

The first thing to do is clear the condensation drain. It’s likely that this is blocked. You’ll find the condensation drain at the bottom and rear inside of the fridge. It’s also a good idea not to place products against the side or rear walls of the fridge or overfill it.

Question 37

What to do if the gas cooker or hob stops working

Accepted Answer

In the event of problems with gas installations, the most important thing is to establish whether there is a leak. It’s usually easy to smell a gas leak. If this is the case, immediately turn off the gas at the mains (this will be near the gas meter) and phone the National service number 0800-9009. A sputtering gas hob or one that isn’t working is often caused by dirt. Clean the separate components of the gas hob, making sure you dry everything thoroughly before putting it back together and checking whether the problem has been resolved. If not, notify your landlord/manager by E-mail and include more information and photos of the model/brand so that a technician can be called in if necessary.

What
moves
you?

Frequently Asked Questions

All questions by topic

Tenancy agreement

Costs/prices

Maintenance/technical

Other

Schedule an informal introduction

Find an Interhouse office

What moves you?

Frequently Asked Questions

All questions by topic

Tenancy agreement

Can I terminate the tenancy agreement if I want to move back into my property?

What is the period of notice?

What is meant by a period of notice of one or more calendar month(s)?

Can a tenancy agreement be terminated prematurely?

What is a diplomatic clause?

Can a landlord terminate the lease to sell the property?

How can the tenancy agreement be terminated?

From what date can the tenancy agreement be terminated?

Can a landlord terminate the tenancy agreement?

Terminating a tenancy agreement, how does that work again?

Costs/prices

How much tax would I be paying for letting my property in Lisse?

Who pays the municipal taxes in Hillegom?

How much tax would I be paying for letting my property in Alphen aan den Rijn?

How much tax would I be paying for letting my property in Haarlemmermeer?

How much rental income can I expect if I were to hire a letting agent in Noordwijk?

Who pays the municipal taxes in Oegstgeest?

Do I have to inform my mortgage provider if I want to rent out my property in Kaag and Braassem?

Maintenance/technical

What to do in the event of a leak

What to do about problems with domestic appliances

What to do in the event of a blocked drain

What to do about damage caused by a leak

Is an appraisal mandatory when purchasing or selling a property?

What does a caretaker do?

What to do if the heating isn’t working or there’s no hot water?

What to do in the event of nuisance/noise caused by third parties?

What to do about condensation in the fridge

What to do if the gas cooker or hob stops working

Other

What to do in the event of a leak

What to do about problems with domestic appliances

What to do in the event of a blocked drain

What to do about damage caused by a leak

Is an appraisal mandatory when purchasing or selling a property?

What does a caretaker do?

What to do if the heating isn’t working or there’s no hot water?

What to do in the event of nuisance/noise caused by third parties?

What to do about condensation in the fridge

What to do if the gas cooker or hob stops working

Schedule an informal introduction

Find an Interhouse office

What
moves
you?