Report Unacceptable Rental Practices by Landlords

The Good Landlord Act protects tenants from misconduct by landlords and rental agents. Landlords must follow clear rules. If they fail to do so, the municipality can take action, such as issuing a warning or a fine. 

Examples of poor rental practices include:

• Charging too much rent
• Charging an excessive security deposit
• Charging Unfair Service Fees
• Threats or intimidation
• Providing unclear or no information

You can file a report if: 

• Tenant
• Home Seeker
• If you notice any signs or problems in your neighborhood or surrounding area
• You are involved in some other way

This also applies to migrant workers and to people who file reports on their behalf.

You can file a report in the following situations:

• Discrimination: The tenant is being treated unfairly
• Harassment: The landlord puts pressure on the tenant
• Security deposit: The tenant must pay more than twice the base rent
• No lease agreement: The tenant does not have a written lease agreement
• Insufficient information: The landlord does not provide the tenant with a clear explanation of his or her rights, the security deposit, or service charges, and does not share the landlord’s contact information or the contact information for the reporting center.
• Unjustified service charges: Thetenant is paying charges that are not considered service charges under the law
• Double Charges: Tenant Pays Unjustified Brokerage Fees
• Incorrect rent: The rent was not determined in accordance with the Housing Value System (WWS)
• Unlawful rent increase: the rent is rising more than permitted by law

In addition, migrant workers can also file a report in the following situations:

• Link to employment: The lease agreement and employment contract are linked (for example, they are included in the same document)
• Language: The information is not provided in a language the tenant understands

For some reports, it is best to contact a different agency.

• Housing provided by a housing authority (such as HEEMwonen, WonenZuid, or Wonen Limburg): Contact the housing authority. Please note: Is the issue related to an excessive rent or a rent increase? If so, you can report it through the Good Landlord Hotline.
• Maintenance Issues: Contact the Rent Commission via “Maintenance and Defects in Your Home | Rent Commission” if you rent in the social or mid-range housing sectors, and via “Maintenance and Defects in Your Home | Rent Commission” if you rent in the private sector.
• Discrimination: File a report with Discriminatie.nl Limburg via Report Discrimination | Municipality of Kerkrade
• Other Rental Issues: Does your situation not exactly match the points listed above? If so, please contact: 
  • The Rent Commission
  • Kerkrade Legal Aid Center
  • The Legal Help Desk
  • Legal Aid Board