Knowledge Centre
Find the meaning of various terms related to renting & letting here.
When renting a new home, there's more to consider than simply picking a property and moving in. Especially when you're searching for a rental for the first time, there are several things to keep in mind. If you're new to the world of renting, you'll likely come across terms you're not familiar with, such as delivery condition, rent protection, and the rent tribunal. These are terms you really should know when you're renting a place on your own, as it's likely you'll deal with one or more of these aspects.
Agency fees
What does this involve?
Renting a property comes with a lot of financial responsibilities. You need to consider how much budget you have available, whether the rent is reasonable for the size and quality of the property, how much the deposit is, and what additional costs may arise. For instance, there are also agent fees that may come up when renting a new place. It's wise to make a list of the costs you're prepared to incur before signing for your new home. Here you can read more about incurring agent fees.
What are agent fees?
Agent fees are additional costs charged to bring a tenant and landlord together. An agent can be hired by either party. For example, a tenant can instruct an agent to find a suitable property, while a landlord can ask an agent to find potential tenants for an empty property. Other tasks you might assign to the agent include gathering new information about the property or individuals, negotiating rent, and viewing properties. The costs of arranging key transfer and signing the lease also fall under this category.
When are agent fees applicable?
Since 1 July 2016, these rules have been tightened, and agent fees cannot simply be charged to the tenant. Make sure these are not charged without valid reason, as this is usually not allowed. An agent can only charge agent fees if you, as a tenant, give the order to the estate agent to find a suitable property for you, provided the agent is not working for the landlord. If the agent finds a property for you that does not come from their own listings, agent fees can be applied. This is a fairly exceptional situation. Even if an agent works for a landlord, they still cannot charge agent fees. This is known as ‘conflict of interest’ and is officially prohibited in the Netherlands.
Furthermore, agent fees are also allowed if you give the estate agent tasks that are outside their usual duties. This may include tasks such as replacing or adding new facilities, making a nameplate at the front door, applying for a parking permit, and other home improvement tasks.
Other names
Sometimes, agencies try to outsmart you by charging agent fees under a different name. Common terms where agent fees are still charged include administrative costs, brokerage costs, contract costs, advisory costs, marketing costs, and rental costs. If you're unsure, you should contact the company for an (additional) explanation of the costs.
Paid unjustly
After reading this page, do you think you've paid agent fees unjustly? Or are you currently in a situation where agent fees are being charged? Double-check this for yourself. If this is the case, you can request a refund or deny these charges.