Permitted and Prohibited Service Charge Items in Delft

In Delft, not all costs may be passed on to tenants as service charges, especially not in iconic student complexes such as those around TU Delft or historic buildings in the city centre. Permitted items include, among others, cleaning of communal areas such as the canal promenades, lift maintenance in high-rise buildings on Phoenixstraat, building insurance against water damage, and household waste disposal via the Delft waste service. Prohibited remain personal expenses, such as individual internet connections for student internet or replacement of tenant-specific appliances. According to Article 7:257 of the Dutch Civil Code (BW), service charges must be reasonable and market-conform, without a profit margin for the landlord – a rule that is strictly enforced by the local Rent Tribunal in The Hague, which has jurisdiction over Delft. Tenants do not bear costs for structural major maintenance, such as roof repairs on old Delft facades, which are exclusively at the landlord's expense. Invoices must be demonstrable and traceable to the leased object, with specific mention of local rates. In Owners' Associations (VvE) complexes in neighbourhoods such as Buitenhof, additional rules from the deed of division apply, often aligned with Delft monument regulations. Check whether costs are correctly split by consumption, surface area or number of occupants, taking into account the high student density. Unlawful items, such as hidden costs for municipal parking permits, may be refused and struck off. The Rent Tribunal may impose fines for repeated violations by Delft landlords. As a tenant in Delft: demand specifications, compare with rates from local providers such as TU housing, and consult the municipality website for current rules. This article helps you in Delft rental properties to distinguish between legitimate and unlawful costs, so that you do not unnecessarily pay for the charms of the city.