HomeEnglishRules for landlords and reporting complaints (Good Landlordship Act)
Rules for landlords and reporting complaints (Good Landlordship Act)
Landlords must comply with the Good Landlord Act (WGV for short). For example, they must not overcharge for deposits and rent or charge excessive rent increases. They are also not allowed to discriminate or intimidate their tenants.
It is normal to have a healthy relationship between landlords and tenants. The Good Landlord act is introduced to insure this healthy relationship. Does a landlord or letting party not abide by the rules? Then the tenant can report this to the municipality. We will try to solve the problems together.
Landlords must not discriminate against residents seeking housing.
Landlords may not intimidate or threaten tenants.
Landlords may require a maximum of 2 months bare rent as a deposit. Bare rent is the rent without additional costs such as charges for service, gas, water, electricity or administration. A deposit is a sum of money that the tenant of a property has to pay to the landlord at the beginning of the lease.
Landlords must make a tenancy contract that clearly states all agreements. The contract must be signed by the landlord and tenant, and must be in writing. Your rights and obligations that are not in the lease.
Landlords must properly inform tenants about:
The deposit and how it is repaid if the contract ends.
Letting agents may not charge tenants for mediation.
Additional rules from 1-7-2024
It is prohibited to apply a rent increase higher than the maximum allowed percentage.
Residential properties with 186 WWS points or less may not be let above the maximum.
You can report the following to the hotline:
Discrimination when looking for housing. This means that you think that the reasons for not getting a rental house are unfair and purely based on personal characteristics. For example, because of your religion, appearance, political opinion, origin, gender, nationality, orientation or because you are married.
Harassment, intimidation and threats by your landlord.
No tenancy agreement, or an tenancy agreement that is unclear.
You pay excessive rent or your rent is increased by an excessive amount.
Unjustified extra charges, such as mediation fees or excessive service charges.
Failure of the landlord to repay the deposit on time.
Complaints about issues not covered by the Good Landlord Act can be reported to other bodies: