Deposit Rules for Room Rental and Shared Living in Amsterdam

In Amsterdam, where room rental and shared living are booming due to high house prices and its student city status, strict deposit rules apply to prevent abuse. The deposit may not exceed one month's rent (art. 7:232 BW), even with multiple housemates in a typical Amsterdam canal house or student house. Each tenant pays separately, but the landlord manages one total sum. Specify in the contract which portion applies per room, especially important in popular residential complexes in Oud-West or the Pijp. In case of damage, the landlord holds all tenants jointly and severally liable, but tenants settle this internally among themselves. Required: a joint inspection report upon move-in and move-out, with signatures from everyone – crucial in busy neighbourhoods like the Jordaan. If this is missing, no deduction from the deposit is allowed. Platforms like Kamernet and Pararius, widely used by Amsterdammers, recommend depositing the deposit into an escrow account with notaries in the city. Upon early departure, often due to study delay or job change, the landlord must repay pro rata, minus proven damage. Disputes are resolved via the Huurcommissie in Amsterdam, with a focus on 'normal wear and tear' such as bicycle marks in hallways. Example: a stain on the wooden floor by a housemate in a De Pijp room – only that person pays, not the whole group. Tenants can act collectively against unreasonable demands, supported by the Woonbond Amsterdam. The Good Landlordship Act (2023) obliges landlords to transparency, extra relevant due to the municipality's stricter enforcement against rogue landlords. Tip: use the model room rental contract with deposit clause from the central government, and check with the Amsterdam Huurteam for free advice. (312 words)