Permissible Service Costs under Rental Law in Rijswijk

In Rijswijk, a municipality near The Hague with many rental properties in neighbourhoods such as Innen and Oud-Rijswijk, not all costs may be passed on to tenants as service charges. According to the Tenancy Act (Article 7:257 of the Dutch Civil Code), these must be reasonable and market-conform, which is particularly relevant due to the high rental pressure in the Haaglanden region. Permitted are advances for cleaning of stairwells, lift maintenance in apartment buildings such as those on Plataanlaan, and garden maintenance in complexes around the centre. Prohibited remain income-replacement costs such as vacancy or non-payment, a common issue with local housing associations such as Vidomes. Energy costs for common areas, such as in shopping centres at de Bogaard, are permitted, but not for individual meters in rental apartments. Insurance premiums only if they are specifically landlord-related, for example for fire risks in older Rijswijk buildings. Management costs may constitute a maximum of 15-20% of the total service charges, depending on the size of the complex – often lower in larger Rijswijk complexes due to economies of scale. The settlement must be detailed per category with underlying invoices, as required by the Rent Tribunal. Tenants in Rijswijk do not bear costs for structural maintenance that falls under major repairs, such as roof replacement in post-war apartment buildings. Check whether costs are fairly distributed among tenants in proportion to surface area or consumption, in line with local standards. In case of excess of the advance, the law requires repayment within six weeks; otherwise, a rent reduction via the district court in The Hague is threatened. The Rent Tribunal tests against sector agreements, with extra attention to Rijswijk housing association properties. Always review the tenancy agreement: which costs are explicitly agreed? This way you avoid disputes with landlords in Rijswijk and only pay what is lawful. (278 words)