Looking for housing in Maastricht? 10 (maybe 8) things you should know
You’re about to come to Maastricht? Very good – it’s an amazing city! Of course, that's no longer a secret, so getting the room or apartment of your dreams will take a bit of work. But don’t despair: while they can’t help you find something, UM’s Housing Helpdesk will support you with any legal questions you might have surrounding your accommodation. Here are some of the most important things to consider:
1. Start looking as early as possible
Obviously… Accommodation is scarce and demand is high. In case you haven’t found suitable accommodation yet, then we urge you to please arrange this as soon as possible to ensure that you do not run into housing issues once the academic year has started. If you still have not found accommodation before the start of the academic year in September, we’re sorry to have to advise you to look for another place to study.
2. Be careful with Facebook
While it is probably the most uncomplicated way to find a room when you're already in Maastricht, there are also a few scam artists out there. So don’t transfer money up-front, especially not to non-Dutch bank accounts, and make sure you can actually view rooms before agreeing to or paying anything. If you can’t visit Maastricht before moving, go through Maastricht Housing (UM’s official housing agency), one of the housing corporations (Woonpunt, Maasvallei and Servatius), or a recognised agency.
3. Agency fees are basically illegal in the Netherlands
The exception is when you task an agency with finding accommodation for you. In all other cases, agencies will be paid by the landlord and they're only allowed to legally represent one party. So be wary of service packages, administration fees, contract costs, etc.
4. Make pictures of your room when moving in
Ideally you would – together with the landlord – prepare an inspection report, where you catalogue everything that's wrong with the flat, so as to accurately determine for what damage you can be held liable when moving out. Failing that, just take some pictures.
5. Servicekosten
Service costs include rent you might pay for furnishings or charges for actual services like cleaning, but also running costs for gas, water and electricity ( - expect at least €70 per month for a room). It’s good to know that the landlords have to show their workings at the end of each calendar year; so you pay a monthly advance but there will be a final account detailing your actual consumption.
6. Have your rental price checked within 6 months
How high the rent is obviously depends on a lot of factors, but there's a legal upper limit to what a landlord can charge, which can be calculated according to the woningwaarderingsstelsel ( - yes, Dutch is a fun language…). For calculating the maximum rent, you can turn to our Housing Helpdesk.
7. Rent subsidies (huurtoeslag)
Depending on your rent, your income, and a few other factors you might be eligible for rent subsidies. Here is the Dutch tax authority’s explanation and here a step-by-step guide on how to apply from mymaastricht, a student information portal.
8. It’s quite difficult to kick you out of your flat
If you want to terminate your rental contract, you need to send your landlord a registered letter and give them a month’s notice. For the landlord it's more difficult: they need to give you at least three months’ notice and give a valid reason.
9. Liability
If you're renting a house together with other people, make sure you all have separate rental contracts; if you're the main tenant and let the rooms informally, you alone are liable.
10. Keep your room tidy
Seriously; please do.
UM's Housing Helpdesk
Housing Helpdesk (now called Huurteam Zuid-Limburg) was set up in 2015 as a cooperation between UM, the municipality and the housing corporations. The idea was to support students with finding housing. “We basically provide legal advice, we check rental contracts, advise people on rent, deposits, maintenance and so forth”, explains Rick Blezer, the project manager of Housing Helpdesk.
He is supported by seven student volunteers from the Law Faculty. “People still pay over the odds, either because they are being ripped off or because the landlords themselves are not aware how the cap on rent works.” Rick remembers how he himself has had issues with rental agreements while studying law in Maastricht: “It makes you realise how valuable it is to know that there's someone you can turn to. It’s really satisfying to help tenants.”
Rick and his team have their work cut out for them: in their first year, they took on around 200 cases and saved their tenants around €40,000, rising to almost twice that the year after. This year he expects in excess of 300 cases.
If you are suspicious or unsure about anything to do with your rental contract, you can contact the Housing Helpdesk here or personally Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday between 10.00 and 12.00 at the Student Service Centre (SSC) in Bonnefantenstraat 2, Maastricht.
Rick Blezer is one of the founders and the project leader of the Housing Helpdesk.
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