Rent Disputes Committee: Alternative to Termination Procedure for Rental Agreements

For termination due to rent prices or defects, the Rent Disputes Committee (Article 7:251 of the Dutch Civil Code) offers a low-threshold alternative. Binding decisions often prevent judicial termination. Landlords and tenants must report disputes within two months.

Procedure and Binding Advice

The committee assesses the reasonableness of the rent and maintenance. Non-compliance may lead to termination, but first mitigation or remediation is considered. This saves time and costs compared to the subdistrict court.

Advantages and Limitations

Ideal in cases of arrears due to defects; the tenant may receive a waiver. Not applicable for nuisance. Decisions are directly enforceable through a writ of execution.

Practice: 70% of disputes are resolved without court intervention.