Formal Requirements and Signing of Rental Agreements in Delft

In Delft, rental agreements must comply with the formal requirements of art. 7:201 CC to be legally valid. For student housing and apartments in neighbourhoods such as the city centre or TU campus, written form is mandatory, with signatures of the lessor and lessee. If this is missing, the agreement is considered null or only orally provable, which complicates disputes before the Delft district court. Mandatory mentions include names, address (e.g. Oude Delft or Phoenixstraat), rent price, duration, service costs and notice period. Temporary contracts (max. 2 years, art. 7:271(1) CC) require explicit mention of non-extension, crucial for expats at TU Delft. Digital signing via eHerkenning or iDIN is valid under the Digital Government Act, convenient for international students. In case of formal defects, the court may recognise the contract if the parties are factually performing it (good faith, art. 6:248(2) CC). Delft lessors: use model contracts from ROZ or Huurcommissie, tailored to local rules such as the Delft Housing Allocation Ordinance for priority declarations. Lessees: check for hidden costs such as deposit exceeding 2 months' rent, often seen in Delft canal properties. Without signature of one party, the lessee remains protected against eviction without procedure. Invalid clauses lapse automatically. For international lessees from EU countries, cross-border recognition applies. Make duplicates and register with the Tax Authorities for mortgage interest deduction. Specifically in Delft: consult the municipality for room change permits in subletting. This way, you build a solid rental relationship in this student city. (248 words)