Urgent Personal Use as Grounds for Termination by Landlord

Landlords may request tenants to vacate the property with a three-month notice period for urgent personal use (Article 7:274 of the Dutch Civil Code). Valid urgent reasons include: personal occupancy, family reunification, or renovation for personal use. Evidence is required to prevent speculative real estate practices. Tenants are granted a six-month consideration period and may claim €6,000 in compensation if the termination is deemed unreasonable. If the tenant refuses, the case may be brought before the Rent Tribunal or the subdistrict court. Case law requires concrete evidence, such as family expansion. The landlord must actually occupy the property within two years; otherwise, a penalty may be imposed. Tenants with urgent circumstances (e.g., illness) have veto rights. Statistics show that 25% of termination notices fail due to lack of evidence. Tip: tenants should demand written justification; landlords should prepare a comprehensive dossier. Alternative: voluntary vacation with a bonus. (198 words)