Additional Costs
In addition to the rental cost of a property and the running costs which must be paid, there are certain charges that you may be required to pay when renting a property. If you choose to use an estate agent to help you in your search, you will usually be required to pay a commission fee to the agency. You may also have to pay an administration fee to a rental website that you use. When you have found a place to live, the landlord may ask for a security deposit and / or 'key money'. If there is any furniture being left in the room or property by a previous tenant, you may be asked to pay the second hand value of these items. You may however be entitled to certain state benefits which can assist you with covering the cost of rental, known as the the 'huurtoeslag'.
Finder's Fee: Estate agencies and rental advertisement websites may charge fees in exchange for helping you to find a property. Although you may feel that this is an unnecessary expense, estate agencies can provide invaluable help if you are searching for a specific property or have no time to do a proper search yourself. You may be charged a flat-fee or a percentage of the rental price. Websites may charge you a small fee for replying to an advertisement or for having a look at their advertisements.
Security Deposit: You will usually be required to pay a security deposit when you move into a property, often equal to one or two months' rent. This deposit must be paid before you move into the property, and in exchange you should receive a receipt as proof of payment. If you damage the property or its furnishings during your tenancy, or leave without paying rent or running costs, the landlord will use this deposit to cover their losses. However, if the accommodation has not been damaged, the security deposit will be returned. Sometimes, the landlord asks for a small fee in order to make a set of new keys. This fee will not be refunded.
Take-Over Costs: When you take over a property, there may be furnishings which the previous tenant is willing to leave behind. However, you will be required to pay the secondhand value of these items in exchange. You are not under any obligation to purchase the previous tenant's furniture, but you will often be offered a generous deal. It will usually save you a lot of time, trouble and money to pay the previous tenant a contribution and keep their things, especially if they are willing to sell their electrical appliances, fitted cabinets and larger items such as a bed and mattress. Legally, you are not required to pay for any items which are left in the accommodation by the previous tenant: when you move in they effectively become your own property.
