As of January 1, 2021, the City of Rotterdam has begun introducing a permit for landlords of residential properties. This means that it will be mandatory for those properties in question to apply for a landlord permit. The City of Rotterdam has chosen to do this so that abuses in the private rental market in Rotterdam can be ended.
Initially, this is a pilot in the Carnisse neighborhood. In this district, the municipality has found that there are many problems. If this pilot proves to be a success, the municipality of Rotterdam will use this permit citywide.
Housing Market
The municipality of Rotterdam has found that in several places in the city the housing rental market is not doing well. There is overcrowding, intimidation, housing and address fraud, discrimination, housing nuisance and in some cases even exploitation of tenants. There may also be illegal use of a property, such as by hemp cultivation or prostitution. The municipality of Rotterdam notes that in many cases, people only stay in these homes for a short time, causing the social bonding and safety in a neighborhood to deteriorate.
Preventing abuses
By introducing a landlord permit, the City of Rotterdam hopes to prevent abuses in the rental market. First, landlords of properties where abuses have been found before will receive a warning. Once you as a landlord have received a warning, you will be given the chance to still resolve the abuses.
Does the landlord ultimately not resolve the abuses? Then the municipality of Rotterdam will designate the property and you, the landlord, must apply for the landlord permit. In that case, the property may not be rented out without a landlord's permit. When the landlord receives a landlord permit, then the Rotterdam Municipality will check for compliance with the conditions. If the conditions are not properly complied with, the municipality will impose charges under penalty, these start from €10,000. Does that not help either? Then you as a landlord can lose the landlord permit, which means you are no longer allowed to rent out the property.