The municipality of Amsterdam has launched a campaign to encourage tenants to check their rental rights. A team has also been put together to crack down on landlords who abuse these rights, by overcharging for rent for example.

Dutch city cracks down on exploitation of tenants

Following the introduction of the Affordable Rent Act last year, Dutch municipalities have gained the power to pursue landlords who are abusing their tenants' rental rights. From charging too much for rent to discrimination against tenants, as of January 1, 2025, cities can give out penalties and fines of up to 87.000 euros if landlords violate regulations repeatedly. 

For their part, Amsterdam has employed more workers to join a team that will enforce these regulations and crack down on landlords who are exploiting their tenants. They are also working on creating awareness for tenants so that they know what their rights are and where to report abuses. As part of the campaign, there will be advertisements, graffiti, social media posts, posters and articles in local media. 

“We see that during a housing crisis, rental rights in particular are under enormous pressure,” said Amsterdam’s head of housing Zita Pels during an event. “People are afraid to stand up for their rights, because they are worried about being evicted from all that they have – their home. So this is why we are campaigning to inform people that the municipality and the !WOON foundation are there to help them assert their rights.” 

Know your rental rights as a tenant in the Netherlands

According to Pels, the municipality will ensure landlords follow the law as housing is a fundamental right and should not be taken advantage of. “Quite simply, you have the right to have an affordable home, where the rent matches the number of points that the house is worth, to have correct service charged and not to have to pay an enormous deposit,” she stated. “And we also want to send a very clear signal to landlords… that we won’t be messed with.”

The Affordable Rent Act uses a points system to determine the maximum rent a landlord can charge, while the Good Landlordship Act outlines what is and is not allowed when renting a home in the Netherlands. This includes rules that landlords should follow such as providing a written rental agreement and not charging more than two times the rent for a security deposit. Check out your rental rights and find out where you can report abuses on the city’s website.