Many expats who rent a home in the Netherlands, in addition to the rent, they also pay service costs. These are costs for, for example, energy, cleaning or maintenance of communal areas. Unfortunately, we often see that expats pay too much for service costs or even receive costs that are not justified at all.

The rental rights lawyers at Arslan Advocaten explain exactly what service costs are, what can and cannot be done, and how expats can protect themselves.

What are service costs?

Service costs are additional costs on top of the bare rental price. Examples:

• Gas, water, and light (if included).

• Cleaning of staircases or communal areas.

• Garden maintenance in apartment complexes.

• Furniture or furnishing in furnished homes.

⚠️ Note: service costs must always be transparent and verifiable.

Why expats often pay too much

1. Unclear contracts – expats often sign quickly, without knowing what is or is not included in the service costs.

2. Shortage of settlement – landlords sometimes do not give an annual invoice, while it is mandatory.

3. Double costs – some expats pay for gas/water/light themselves as well as via the service costs.

4. Undeserved recurring charges – costs for repairs or agents are sometimes wrongly appointed as service costs.

Your rights as an expat

• The landlord is obligated to give an annual overview of the service costs.

• Only reasonable and accountable costs can be passed on.

• You have a right to the viewing of invoices and accounts.

• Are you paying too much? Then you can demand a refund.

Real-life examples

• Expats in Amsterdam paid € 200 per month for service costs. When the invoices were requested, it turned out that only € 80 per month was reasonable. The rest was refunded.

• An expat in The Hague had cleaning costs passed on for a building where no cleaner was active. After the intervention of a lawyer, he got his money back.

• International student paid service costs for furniture that was already broken at delivery. These costs were eliminated after an objection.

Checklist for expats regarding service costs

• 📑 Ask for a specification of the service costs in the contract.

• 🧾 Ask annually for the invoice.

• 📉 Check if the costs match your actual use.

• ⚖️ Bring in a lawyer if the service costs seem too high or unjustified.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

1. How much service costs are normal?
That depends on the property, but amounts above € 100-150 per month for a room or small house are often suspicious.

2. Should the landlord show invoices?
Yes, you have the right to view the underlying bills.

3. Can I get back excessive service costs?
Yes, you can demand a refund and claim it via court if necessary.

4. Do expats have the same rights as Dutch people?
Yes, expats have exactly the same rights and protection under Dutch rental law.

Conclusion

Expats often pay too much or unjustified service costs because they do not know the rules properly and landlords abuse this. Know that you always have the right to transparency, an annual invoice and a refund of improper costs.

The rental rights lawyers of Arslan Advocaten help expats protect their rights and recover unjustly paid service costs.