Forums » Netherlands » Housing in the Netherlands

• samyinc

  

  • 6 posts
   

  May 28, 2012 10:24:56 PM CEST

  Hello All,

  
  

  I recently found an apartment rented out by a colleague. We were close to signing the contract without involving rental agency. Suddenly, he informed me that he will be taxed by the government if he does not rent it through agency.

  
  

  Since he would like to have tax  benefits, he insisted on renting the property via the rental agency. This means I will have to pay for the rental agency fee.

  
  

  Is this true that landlords will be taxed if they directly rent us and not if its rented via agencies? 

  
  

  Thanks in advance for your time in answering this query.

  
  

  Kind Regards

  -Samy

• jbs80106

  

  • 10 posts
   

  May 31, 2012 2:29:48 AM CEST

  Hey Samy. I'm no expert yet. Have only just returned from some house hunting myself. According to the agents that I talked to, I think the answer on whether you have to pay the agency fee 'depends'. If you didn't have an agent, and the rentor does, I think you're stuck. If you have an agent, and they do too, then the fee seems to be 'worked out'.
  
  As for taxes. It is my understanding that it has to be a legal/registered rental so it can be your address, the landlords mortgage company knows it's a rental and then any income from the property can be taxed.....
  
  Me, I would lean towards doing things above board. The rental/landlord relationship may likely weigh on the colleague relationshipship, kind of like 'don't lend money to a friend'.....
• liveaboard

  

  • 90 posts
   

  June 3, 2012 3:28:38 PM CEST

  The story is complete BS; the landlord's taxes are unchanged whether he rents the apartment or not. He/she has to pay property tax as well as a percentage of equity owned.
  There are some user taxes that will be sent to the registered tenant [if the tenant is registered]. If there is no registered tenant, then these bills will be sent to the house owner.
  The housing agent can’t register the tenant’s address, only the tenant can do that.
  This landlord just wants to get more money out of you.
  
  I am not a tenant, but I am a landlord.