Permissible and Prohibited Service Charge Items

Not all costs may be charged as service charges. Permissible items include cleaning of common areas, lift maintenance, building insurance, and waste disposal. Prohibited are personal expenses such as individual internet connections, replacement of tenant-specific appliances, or commercial advertising. The law (Article 7:257 of the Dutch Civil Code) stipulates that service charges must be reasonable and in line with market rates, without a profit margin for the landlord. Tenants may not bear costs for structural major maintenance, which is the responsibility of the landlord. Invoices must be verifiable and traceable to the rented property. For owners' association (VvE) complexes, additional rules apply via the deed of division. Verify whether costs are correctly allocated based on consumption or surface area. Unlawful items can be refused for payment and removed from the statement. The Rent Tribunal may impose fines for repeated violations. As a tenant: always request itemized specifications and compare with market prices. This article helps you distinguish between legitimate and unlawful costs, ensuring you do not pay unnecessarily.