In Delft, with its vibrant student population at TU Delft and the university campus, subletting is popular but risky. Subletting always requires written permission from both the main tenant and the landlord; without it, it is illegal under the Civil Code. Upon termination of the main tenancy, the subtenancy ends automatically, unless the landlord explicitly agrees to continuation (Article 7:267 CC). As a subtenant, you enjoy no termination protection against the main tenant.
Procedure in Delft: request permission via email or registered letter, often with a security deposit. Landlords in neighborhoods such as the city center or Poptahof refuse in cases of default, such as damage to monumental buildings. Practical example: a TU Delft student sublets a room in a student house on Phoenixstraat. If the main tenant leaves, the subtenant must go, unless the housing corporation such as Woonbron or DUWO consents.
In disputes, the sub-district court in The Hague rules; subtenants often claim damages. Protection: the sublease agreement may never run longer than the main tenancy. Illegal subletting, such as via Airbnb, leads to fines and immediate termination – stricter since the Delft Housing Ordinance 2023, with limits on room rentals in busy neighborhoods such as the Innenstad.
Local tip: check the house rules of Delft housing corporations and the municipality website for urgent allocation list rules. These provisions prevent chain terminations and abuse in the tight Delft rental market. (248 words)