Rental terms
General conditions of rental agreement
Furnished accommodation - Amsterdam
Article 1 Tenancy regulations
1.1. These tenancy regulations are part of the rental agreement.
1.2. The stipulations of the tenancy regulations apply to the individual accommodations as well as the rooms intended for common use if these rooms are mentioned in the rental agreement.
1.3. Modifications to the rental agreement and the tenancy regulations can only be agreed upon in writing.
Article 2 The rent
2.1. If the minister of Public Housing determines a rent that differs from the one stated in the rental agreement, this rent substitutes the latter from the date it becomes effective.
2.2. The rent can also change under the rules of government conditions and regulations applying in this respect.
2.3. The amount payable by the tenant every month for provisions and services can be changed by DUWO on the basis of reasonable calculation.
2.4. The costs of provisions and services are apportioned annually among the inhabited accommodations. The apportioning is done on the basis of a distributive code that is determined by DUWO. The costs per individual accommodation are calculated irrespective of its actual use, unless there exists a reliable provision - according to current standards - to measure the individual expenditure.
2.5. The amounts for provisions and services charged monthly to the tenants are advance sums. The differences between the expenses actually incurred and the amounts paid by the tenant will either be settled annually or be transferred to the next period of exploitation, at the option of DUWO.
2.6. DUWO provides the tenant annually with a specified survey of monthly payable advance sums for provisions and services as well as the expenses actually incurred.
Article 3 Payment of the rent
3.1. The tenant binds himself/herself to pay the rent in advance before the first day of the month, unless other terms of payment have been agreed upon.
3.2. The tenant will pay the rent by remittance to giro account No. 4977840 of DUWO in Amstelveen.
3.3. When paying the rent the tenant will not appeal to any deduction or debt settlement, unless he/she has been legally authorised to do so.
Article 4 Delivery and acceptance of the rented accommodation at the commencement of the rental period
4.1. DUWO is obliged to deliver the object in good condition to the tenant.
4.2. The tenant declares that he/she accepts the rented object and everything belonging to it in good condition, unless he/she notifies DUWO in writing within 14 days from the commencing date of this agreement that he/she has still found any defects.
4.3. The state of the accommodation at the commencing date of the rental agreement is laid down in an inventory form. Both DUWO and the tenant receive a copy of this form.
Article 5 Furniture
5.1. DUWO may let the accommodation to the tenant inclusive of some furniture.
5.2. The tenant is to leave the furniture behind when he vacates the accommodation, unless DUWO decides differently.
Article 6 DUWO’s obligations
6.1. During the rental period DUWO will carry out all necessary maintenance work of the accommodation, insofar as this does not belong to the tenant’s duty of maintenance and repair in accordance with article 8.
6.2. During the rental period DUWO will grant the tenant the untroubled enjoyment of the accommodation.
6.3. DUWO is not liable for any actual disturbance of the living comfort by third parties.
6.4. DUWO will repair any visible or invisible defect that seriously hampers the comfortable use of the accommodation, even if such defect was unknown to DUWO at the commencing date of the rental period.
6.5. DUWO is not liable for any damage suffered by the tenant as a result of a defect as mentioned in the previous section, nor for stagnation of apparatus, installations, etc. belonging to the accommodation.
Article 7 Tenant's obligations
7.1. The accommodation is intended only to be used as habitation.
7.2. The tenant commits himself/herself to use and maintain the accommodation as a good tenant. The tenant will use the accommodation in accordance with its original purpose, and he/she will not change that purpose.
7.3. The tenant will occupy the accommodation by himself/herself and use it as his/her permanent residence.
7.4. Without the written permission by DUWO the tenant is not allowed to sublet or give the use of the accommodation or part of it to third parties.
7.5. The right of use of the rooms intended for common use, as mentioned in the rental agreement, is entitled to the tenant and the co-tenants of the building. The tenant and the co-tenants use this right simultaneously and with respect of each other’s rights.
7.6. The tenant will use the common rooms strictly in accordance with their original purpose in compliance with the instructions given by DUWO in this respect.
Article 8 The tenant's duty of maintenance and repair
8.1. The following maintenance and repair activities are for the tenant’s expense:
- sweeping and cleaning of chimneys and ventilation ducts
- whitewashing, wallpapering and painting indoors
- repair/replacement of broken indoor and outdoor glass windows, and mirrors
- repair/replacement of fastenings, switches, wall outlets, doorbell, etc.
- cleaning/unblocking of toilets, bathroom and kitchen sinks, gutters, soil pipes, sewer pits, etc., and cleaning of provisions for common use
- periodical maintenance of hot water and heating systems, etc.
- repair/replacement of water taps and taking protective measures under conditions of severe frost
- any other maintenance/repair work that has become necessary as a result of the tenant’s fault (intent, negligence, carelessness), or that - in accordance with local custom - has to be paid for by the tenant
8.2. The tenant will carry out the aforementioned repair activities competently and observe the regulations and instructions given or to be given by the authorities concerned.
8.3. If there exists a common arrangement in respect of one or more of the aforementioned activities, the tenant’s only obligation is to pay a periodical contribution as long as he/she falls within the scope of this arrangement. In that case the repair/ maintenance work will be done by DUWO.
8.4. The tenant commits himself/herself to observe DUWO’s instructions in respect of the cleaning and maintenance of the rooms intended for common use, as mentioned in the rental agreement. If these instructions are not observed, the cleaning and maintenance of these rooms will done by or on behalf of DUWO at the expense of the tenants.
Article 9 Changes by DUWO
9.1. Without the tenant’s written permission DUWO will not make any changes to the accommodation, the provisions belonging to the accommodation and the package of additional provisions and services for the duration of the rental period.
9.2. The tenant will not withhold the aforementioned permission unless he/she has a reasonable interest in that and, when making his/her decision, has taken due account of DUWO’s interests, and, if the accommodation is part of a block of accommodations, with the interests of the occupants of the other accommodations.
Article 10 Changes by the tenant
10.1. The tenant will not make any changes to the accommodation without DUWO’s written permission. The tenant will request DUWO in writing for permission to make the change.
10.2. Changes are understood to be not only all kinds of reconstructions, extensions, pulling-downs, but also awnings, shutters, etc., and aerials, dishes and masts.
10.3. DUWO will refuse permission for changes as mentioned in section 10.2. if such changes:
- are expected to cause permanent damage to the building
- are in contradiction with any legal regulation including any regulation issued by a competent authority or institution
- are expected to cause nuisance or inconvenience to third parties
10.4. DUWO may attach conditions to her permission in regard to materials to be used, design and construction, maintenance, insurance, taxes and charges, responsibilities, delivery of the accommodation at the end of the rental period, etc.
10.5. Changes to the accommodation that have been made by the tenant without the written permission of DUWO will be undone by the tenant upon DUWO’s first notification. It the tenant does not respond to this notification, the necessary work to undo the changes will be carried out by or on behalf of DUWO at the expense of the tenant.
Article 11 Admittance to the accommodation / allowance
11.1. On request of DUWO the tenant will enable DUWO to inspect the accommodation for technical and other defects.
11.2. The tenant will permit DUWO to carry out any maintenance and repair work deemed necessary by DUWO that cannot be postponed until the end of the tenancy period.
11.3. The tenant will admit to the accommodation persons entrusted by DUWO with the inspection of the maintenance/repair work after they have properly identified themselves.
11.4. Barring exceptional circumstances, the maintenance/repair work and inspections will be done on workdays between 8:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m., after previous notification.
11.5. During the period of the maintenance/repair work the tenant is not entitled to a reduction of rent unless the aforementioned work takes more than 40 days. In that event the rent will be reduced in proportion to the time and the part of the accommodation the tenant has been deprived of during the repair period.
11.6. After his/her notification to cancel the rental agreement the tenant will admit future tenants to the accommodation after an appointment has been arranged for such a visit.
Article 12 Other provisions
12.1. The tenant is not allowed:
- to drive nails or drill into floors because of the possible presence of conducts of water, gas and/or central heating
- to apply cement plaster onto the walls of the accommodation
- to glue, staple or nail carpeting onto the floor of the accommodation
- to remove railings from balconies
12.2. The tenant is not allowed:
- to keep pets in the accommodation
- to run a business in the accommodation
- to put or keep goods in rooms that are not intended for that purpose
- to block or make improper use of fire-extinguishing materials installed in the building
12.3. The tenant is not allowed to cause nuisance or inconvenience in any way.
Article 13 The tenant's liability
13.1. The tenant is liable for any damage caused by himself/herself to the accommodation during the rental period, unless he/she can prove that the damage was not caused through his/her fault.
Only for the application of this article the accommodation is considered also to comprise the conducts, cables and pipes located in the grounds belonging to the accommodation.
13.2. The tenant as well as the co-tenants are severally liable for damage to the rooms and provisions for common use, unless individual guilt can be proven.
Article 14 Instructions by the social warden
14.1. A social warden is employed by DUWO and entrusted with the control of a certain number of accommodations/units; the social warden is authorised to give instructions to the tenants about the way of occupation of the accommodation.
14.2. The tenant is bound to follow the instructions given by the social warden.
Article 15 Termination of the agreement
15.1. The tenant and DUWO can always terminate the agreement by mutual consent at a date to be determined by both parties, unless the rental agreement specifically states otherwise.
Article 16 Delivery of the accommodation
16.1. At the end of the rental period the tenant will deliver the accommodation in the state of maintenance in which he/she accepted it at the commencement of the rental period.
16.2. Prior to the termination of the agreement DUWO will give the tenant an opportunity to inspect the accommodation together and record on an inventory form which repair work has to be done on the tenant’s responsibility and/or at his/her expense in order to restore the accommodation to a good condition.
16.3. Both DUWO and the tenant receive a copy of the inventory form.
16.4. After the inspection DUWO will enable the tenant to carry out the repair work stated in the inventory form within a reasonable space of time to be determined by DUWO.
16.5. If the tenant has failed to restore the accommodation within the fixed period of time or has not used the possibility of inspection mentioned in section 16.2., DUWO has the right, without any further notice, to carry out the repair work mentioned in the inspection report and charge the costs involved to the tenant.
16.6. If and insofar as it has not been agreed otherwise between both parties, the tenant will undo before the end of the tenancy period any changes made by him/her to the accommodation and/or changes falling under his/her responsibility.
16.7. On the date of vacation the tenant will deliver to DUWO all the keys belonging to the accommodation.
16.8. DUWO has the right to remove at the tenant’s expense any goods that appear to be left behind by the tenant after he/she vacates the accommodation, and dispose of such goods without having to pay any compensation to the tenant, unless the leaving tenant and the future tenant have notified DUWO in writing before the end of the rental period that the goods will be taken over by the future tenant.
Article 17 Deposit
17.1. The deposit, after deduction of the money to be reclaimed by DUWO, will be refunded to the tenant at most 2 months after the date of termination of the tenancy agreement.
17.2. The tenant agrees to the deduction of telephone debts from the deposit.
17.3. The tenant agrees to it that the interest on the deposit is put at the disposal of the residents’ organisations recognized by DUWO.
Article 18 Default
18.1. If the tenant fails to fulfil any obligation resting upon him by virtue of the law or this agreement and, as a consequence, DUWO has to take legal and/or non-legal steps, any resulting costs to be incurred by DUWO -which are fixed for the time being at a usual percentage of the principal amount- are for the tenant’s account.
From the date at which the tenant is declared in default by DUWO he/she has to pay the legal interest on the principal amount. This without prejudice of DUWO’s right to charge the tenant with the administrative costs incurred by DUWO as a result of the tenant’s negligence.
Article 19 Provisions relating to furnishings in the rented accommodation
19.1. The rented accommodation is let furnished by DUWO. On signing the rental agreement the tenant obtains an inventory list naming the entire inventory placed in the rented accommodation by DUWO.
19.2. It is not permitted to remove inventory from the rented accommodation or to take it away without prior permission in writing from DUWO.
19.3. During the rental period the tenant shall ensure that the inventory is maintained in a good state. All repair work to the inventory which is the consequence of incorrect use, carelessness, gross negligence, uncleanness or rough treatment by the tenant or persons for whom s/he is responsible is to be paid by the tenant. All repair work which is necessary because of wear and tear after normal use of the inventory is to be borne by DUWO.
19.4. Damage to the inventory occurring during the rental period should be reported to DUWO within 7 days of the occurrence of the damage. If the damage is not reported by the tenant, DUWO will hold the tenant responsible for this damage.