Forums » Netherlands » Legal Problems in the Netherlands

• Shortia

  

  • 11 posts
   

  May 4, 2012 4:36:21 PM CEST

  I thought I would post this up for some advice regarding a property I rented while living in The Netherlands.
  
  I lived in The Netherlands up until the 25th of April 2012.  I returned on the 29th to clear out the apartment and hoped to do a check out on the 30th with the agency responsible for the letting.  As the 30th was Queens Day, the agency refused and as I couldn't hang around until the 1st as I was starting a new job in the UK on the 1st, I agreed or rather had little choice but to let the agency do the check out themselves.
  
  Having cleaned the said apartment in question and left it in the same state as when I moved in, the agency sent me a 'damage' report - full of existing damage and now claim that I will be responsible for this existing damage.  I find this a little reprehensible, I trusted them to do a proper, honest check out and now they seem intent on stealing my deposit.  What are my options here?  What can I do?  I really just can't let them take my money and put it down to 'bad experience'.  This resolves nothing and it also leaves me out of pocket.

   

  Anyone?

• ouloveit3

  

  • 608 posts
   

  May 4, 2012 6:32:37 PM CEST

  Oh oh ... I am afraid this has happened to a lot of expats here as well.
  
  You moved out of a clean apartment - but they claim that you damaged it and will try to keep your deposit.
  
  You can never trust these landlords...
  
  Well, they have your deposit though so the only way to get it back is to hire lawyer because it's your word and against his.
  
  Sorry but this is the only advice I can offer.
  
  This does happen a lot though. This is why I always tell people to take pictures of the property with witnesses and/or put off your move out date until the letting agent to meets you. So then he can inspect the property and clear it as you return the keys.
  
  You could try the one of these free lawers at:
  
  http://www.juridischloket.nl/bezoekloket/Pages/default.aspx
  http://www.rechtwijzer.nl/?gclid=CJbdsaucn60CFcYl3godUzeTzg
  http://rechtswinkelmigranten.nl
  
  Good luck .. that's really a ripoff.
• Bugga

  

  • 4 posts
   

  May 4, 2012 11:50:28 PM CEST

  Happened to me too..... I've sent you an add friend request so that we can chat about this.
• Shortia

  

  • 11 posts
   

  May 6, 2012 12:24:43 PM CEST

  this is the Netherlands though...and through a respectable agency called Stoit....I actually shake my head in bemusement at it all.
  
  i think the only logical plan of action I have is to go back and destroy the apartment.
• ouloveit3

  

  • 608 posts
   

  May 9, 2012 9:55:35 PM CEST

  Well, then you open yourself up to proscecution.
  
  This is not logical.
• Shortia

  

  • 11 posts
   

  May 10, 2012 7:40:30 AM CEST

  think of the pure satisfaction.
• ouloveit3

  

  • 608 posts
   

  May 11, 2012 5:49:50 PM CEST

  Yes, but .. at what cost?

   

  Wow .. I would never do such a thing. Don't you want to have a happy, peaceful life?

   

   

  
  This post was edited by ouloveit3 at May 11, 2012 5:50:18 PM CEST
• Shortia

  

  • 11 posts
   

  May 11, 2012 5:55:21 PM CEST

  naturally...
  
  but having 1200EUR stolen by a crooked landlord dosent sit correct with me. Obviously, there must be some kind of vengeance at that price.
• ouloveit3

  

  • 608 posts
   

  May 11, 2012 10:01:02 PM CEST

  If you are not willing to hire a lawyer you should try to contact one of the free lawyers -
  http://www.juridischloket.nl/bezoekloket/Pages/default.aspx
  http://www.rechtwijzer.nl/?gclid=CJbdsaucn60CFcYl3godUzeTzg
  http://rechtswinkelmigranten.nl
  
  Or contact your Gemeente and ask if there is a Dutch agency where you can lodge a complaint.
  
  For all you know the state is trying to find a way to put hinm out of business and is just looking for other victims to come forward.
  
  You can definitely put a flyer in everyone's mailbox that warns that when they move out - they need to have HIM and SEVERAL witnesses there and take pictires that he signs - to make sure he does not rob them - like he did you. (maybe that will make him mad so ask a lawyer first) .
  
  Anyway, I would try legal means to make yourself heard before vandalizing the place.