Rotterdam rent checks lower rent on just 34 homes

Rekenkamer Rotterdam concludes that many private landlords in Rotterdam still charge far too much rent. Its investigation looked at how the city has applied the Wet betaalbare huur since it took effect in July 2024. Only 34 homes have had their rent lowered as a result.

Under the law, a points system sets how high a rent may be. Tenants who think they pay too much must first report it to the city before it can act. Only 212 reports came in up to March this year. The Rekenkamer calls the approach expensive for what it delivers: "Every euro of rent reduction costs the municipality 95 euros."

The Rekenkamer says the city has been far too cautious with landlords who break the rules. While the investigation ran, the city did not take over the management of any homes owned by private landlords and imposed no fines. "This approach makes it pay for a landlord not to comply with the Wet betaalbare huur," the Rekenkamer concludes.

Most tenants do not know where to go. A Rekenkamer survey found that only 30% have some idea where to report excessive rent. The Rekenkamer also found that the worse a landlord behaves, the less willing tenants are to report, often out of fear of the consequences, low trust in government or intimidation.

The city suspects that in Carnisse, a neighbourhood where many labour migrants live, at least 60% of tenants pay far too much or live in poor conditions. Rotterdam has about 213,000 rental homes.

The Rekenkamer recommends actively pursuing repeat offenders, using heavier measures sooner and supporting tenants who run into trouble after reporting. The city board has adopted almost all of its recommendations, and alderman Kockelkoren says enforcement was tightened just before the summer.