How does Nationaal Huurloket work?
From an initial rent check through to a possible decision: select a step to see what you can expect.
Why is a rent check important?
Lowering the rent is often seen as a personal matter between tenant and landlord, but this is not the case.
It is comparable to an energy bill: you pay for what you receive, and the price must be correct. If too much is charged, you have the right to have it corrected.
Tenants are well protected by law. Clear rules determine a reasonable rent and the quality requirements a property must meet. If you pay more than permitted, or the property has serious defects, you may be entitled to a rent reduction.
From rent check to clarity
Select a step to see what happens and what we arrange for you.
Complete the questionnaire
Start by completing our questionnaire. This takes approximately five minutes and allows us to share an initial conclusion with you within 48 hours.
Your answers and relevant documents, such as the tenancy agreement or floor plan, enable us to carry out a complete assessment.
Complete the questionnaire if:
- you are unsure whether the rent matches the property;
- your service charge calculation is unclear;
- defects in the property affect your enjoyment of the home.
Assessment of your situation
We assess your property and tenancy agreement. We check the maximum rent, the agreement, service charges and any defects.
You receive one of these conclusions:
- There are clear grounds for a rent reduction and we can start a procedure.
- There are indications of a possible reduction, but more information is needed.
- There is no legal basis for a reduction; you receive appropriate advice.
Next steps and support
When a rent reduction may be possible, we support the remainder of the process and keep you informed throughout.
We take care of:
- a complete substantiation of the calculations;
- preparation of the required documents;
- submission of a proposal to the landlord.
If necessary, we start a procedure before the Rent Tribunal, which issues a binding decision about the rent.
Decision and completion
If the procedure results in a rent reduction, the rent is adjusted in accordance with the decision. In some cases, a repayment is also established for the period in which too much rent was paid.
We ensure the administrative completion is handled correctly and that the decision is followed.
We only charge a fee following a successful reduction: two months of the rent reduction and, in case of a repayment, 30% of the amount recovered.