Landlord Rights and Obligations in the Netherlands: A Complete Overview (2026)

Letting out a home offers opportunities, but it also comes with real responsibilities. Since the Good Landlordship Act (Wet goed verhuurderschap) took effect in 2023, it has been set out precisely what is and isn't allowed, and the Dutch Civil Code also sets clear limits on what you, as a landlord, may expect from your tenant — and vice versa. In this article we set out the most important rights and obligations of landlords in the Netherlands, based on current regulations. Considering letting your home? Also take a look at our letting page.

Your obligations as a landlord

With the introduction of the Good Landlordship Act, the same national baseline standards apply to every landlord in the Netherlands. The most important obligations are:

• Offer a written rental agreement. Since 1 July 2023, verbal agreements must be confirmed in writing.
• Inform tenants about their rights and obligations, the amount and calculation of the deposit and service costs, and your own contact details — in a language the tenant understands, where necessary.
• Use a transparent, non-discriminatory selection procedure when offering a property, and since 1 January 2024 document this procedure in writing and explain it to rejected candidates on request.
• Refrain from intimidation, such as threatening termination without valid grounds to push through a higher rent, or cutting off gas, water or electricity.
• Only charge actual service costs and provide an itemised annual overview of these.
• Cap the deposit at a maximum of two months' base rent (for contracts from 1 July 2023 onward) and repay it within fourteen days of the tenancy ending, with a written breakdown if any costs are withheld.
• Install smoke alarms on every floor with a living space — mandatory since 1 July 2022 for all rental homes, including existing buildings.

Want to know more about what should be included in a rental contract? Also read our article on how a rental contract works in the Netherlands.

Maintenance: what's on you, what's on the tenant?

As a landlord you also have a clear responsibility when it comes to maintenance. The main rule: major maintenance is the landlord's responsibility, minor, day-to-day maintenance is the tenant's.

• Your responsibility: maintenance of the central heating system, repairs to the roof, facade or foundation, exterior painting, and resolving serious defects such as leaks or severe mould.
• The tenant's responsibility: the minor repairs listed in the Besluit kleine herstellingen (Minor Repairs Decree), such as replacing broken lightbulbs or sockets and bleeding radiators.

If a tenant reports a defect in writing, you're obliged to resolve it within a reasonable period. If you don't, tenants in the social and mid-market sector can turn to the Huurcommissie (Rent Tribunal), which can temporarily reduce the rent until the defect is fixed.

Your rights as a landlord

These obligations come with clear rights in return:

• The right to timely rent payment, in line with the rental agreement.
• The right to an annual rent increase, within the legally permitted maximums (see below).
• The right to enforcement of the rental agreement, for example regarding subletting, nuisance, or use of the property for its intended purpose.
• The right to a deposit as security against potential damage or rent arrears.
• The right to terminate the tenancy, provided you do so on a legally recognised ground and follow the correct procedure and notice period (see below).

Rent increases in 2026: what can you maximally charge?

The maximum annual rent increase differs per segment. For 2026, the following maximums apply:

• Social housing: a maximum of 4.1% as of 1 July 2026, based on average inflation over the past three years plus 0.5 percentage points.
• Mid-market rent: a maximum of 6.1% as of 1 January 2026, based on collective wage growth plus 1 percentage point.
• Private sector: a maximum of 4.4% as of 1 January 2026, based on the lower of wage growth and inflation plus 1 percentage point.

These are statutory maximums: you may always apply a lower increase, but never more than permitted. Note that these percentages are set annually by the government — always check the current figures via rijksoverheid.nl before announcing a rent increase.

Terminating a rental agreement: what's allowed, what isn't?

Unlike a tenant, as a landlord you cannot simply end an indefinite rental agreement. Termination is only possible on one of the legally recognised grounds under the Dutch Civil Code, such as tenant default, urgent personal use, or the tenant's refusal of a reasonable offer for a new rental contract. Selling the property is not a valid ground for termination. Notice must be given towards the end of a calendar month, by registered letter, stating the ground for termination and with a notice period of at least three and at most six months.

Since the Fixed Rental Contracts Act (Wet vaste huurcontracten, 1 July 2024), temporary rental contracts may only be offered in a limited number of legally defined situations. If such a temporary contract isn't terminated correctly and on time, it will in many cases automatically continue for an indefinite period.

Good Landlordship Act: enforcement and fines

Municipalities supervise compliance with the Good Landlordship Act and, since 1 January 2024, have a reporting point where tenants can report undesirable landlord behaviour. In the event of violations, a municipality can impose an administrative fine: up to a maximum of €22,500 for a first offence, rising to a maximum of €90,000 for repeat offences within four years. In serious cases, a municipality can even temporarily take over the management of a property.

Rental permit: does it apply to you?

The Good Landlordship Act itself does not require any landlord to hold a permit, but it does give municipalities the authority to make a rental permit mandatory in specific, vulnerable neighbourhoods through their own local ordinance. If you let a property in such a designated area, a permit requirement may well apply to you. Always check with your municipality whether specific rules apply to your property.

Need help letting your home?

Knowing your rights and obligations as a landlord prevents unnecessary disputes and fines, and gives you more certainty throughout the tenancy. Want to let your home responsibly and without worry? Get in touch with us — or read more about how we support landlords with professional property management.