Rights and obligations of tenants

Information about your rights and obligations when renting your home

You have a tenancy agreement for living space with us. The general rental conditions are included in the tenancy agreement. This contains our precise agreements about the use of your home. On this page we provide you with additional general information about your rights and obligations as a tenant of the home.

You must live in the rented house and use it only as a residence

A home is for living in it. It is not intended for other activities, unless we give you permission for other use by letter or email. You are not allowed to use your home for a business. Working from home is allowed if it is not disruptive in any way to your neighbors or local residents.

We have agreed in the tenancy agreement that you will live in your rented home. Your rented home is your main residence. This means that you live here and that you do not have another home where you live for a longer period of time. You are not allowed to let someone else live in the home without DUWO's permission. Except when it concerns your partner or children still living at home. Allowing someone else to live in the home is only permitted if DUWO gives permission by letter or email. We can attach conditions to this.

Do we receive signals that you no longer live in the home? Or that you live somewhere else for a longer period? Then we expect you to explain the situation to us. You must provide facts and circumstances that show that you still live in the home. Have we established that you no longer live in the home? Then we want to terminate the tenancy agreement with you. If you do not agree to this, we will ask the judge to terminate the rental agreement. We can then assign the home to someone else who is looking for a home.

We know of examples where a tenant sublets the property for an attractive amount. Don't do it: it seems attractive, but you will really lose your home!

You register with the Municipal Personal Records Database (BRP). You will remain registered at this address as long as you rent the home from us. If the rent stops, you must deregister yourself with the municipality again.

We are not allowed to enter your home without your permission, unless there is an emergency

The basic principle is that we do not enter your home without your permission. Unless there is an emergency that requires us to intervene immediately. For example, if there is a gas leak, a fire or a burst water pipe when you are not at home. In that situation, we can also enter your home without your permission or court authorization.

You have to let us in too if
- we have to carry out urgent work (maintenance and inspections).
- we are going to renovate and we have made you a reasonable proposal for this
- your cooperation is required for work at your neighbors
- a viewing is planned for sale or new rental.

If you do not let us in in those cases, we can ask the judge to authorize us to enter your home.

Different types of rental agreements

There are different types of tenancy agreements: temporary tenancy contracts, permanent tenancy contracts and target group contracts. The type of contract is important for how long you can rent the property. You can read more about this at: What different types of rental contracts are there for a home? | Rijksoverheid.nl

The possibilities for rent increases are determined by the minister. This determines annually by what percentage the rent may be increased. You can check the maximum rental price via: Rental price check for living space | Rent committee helps | Rent committee. Please note: this is the basic rental price, not including the advance service costs.

Maintenance

We repair defects in your home if you request it. It does apply that:
- if the defect was caused by your fault, we will charge you for the costs.
- if it concerns small and simple repairs, the costs will be at your expense. Once you have taken out the service subscription, these costs are borne by DUWO.
- if the repair is not easy to carry out, we will make agreements about how and when we will repair the defect.

If there are any problems that you cannot solve yourself, you can report this to us via the tenant portal on our website: https://www.duwo.nl/ik-huur/herstels-en- complaints/ Repair Request-indienen#/

If it is urgent, you can call us on telephone number 015-2516700.

Further information about what constitutes minor and simple repairs can be found at: Which costs are for the tenant and which for the landlord? | Rijksoverheid.nl

You must maintain things that you have added to the home yourself. We call these Self-Installed Facilities (ZAVs). Have you added anything to your home for which we have not given you permission? Then you must remove it when we request it, unless it concerns changes or additions that can be undone at the end of the rental without significant costs.

Complaints and disputes

We do our best for you. However, it may happen that you are not satisfied with us. It may also happen that we have a difference of opinion with you on an important subject. In both cases you can report your complaint via our website: www.duwo.nl/contact/klacht-over-duwo. We always ask you to inform us of your complaint in writing.

If your complaint is not resolved, you can contact other organizations. They are listed for you below.

The complaints committee
There is a special independent complaints committee that handles complaints about our services. You can report a complaint via: www.duwo.nl/contact/contactFORM

Local authority
From January 1, 2024, every municipality will have a reporting point for complaints about landlords or rental agents. Every tenant can go there. For more information, please contact your municipality.

Subdistrict court/rental committee
In a number of cases you can also go to the rent assessment committee or the subdistrict court judge. You can find more information via this link:
When can I go to the Rent Assessment Committee and when can I go to the subdistrict court? | Rijksoverheid.nl