Rental Agreements and WWS Applicability in Amsterdam

In Amsterdam, not all rental agreements fall under the Housing Valuation Act (WWS); room rentals in De Pijp, holiday apartments around the canals, and company housing such as in the Zuidas are excluded (Article 7:232 CC). For social housing in neighbourhoods like Bijlmer or Noord, a housing association is required as landlord, or the rent must remain below the Amsterdam liberalisation threshold of €879.66 (2024). Above this threshold, free price formation applies, but with the statutory notice period of one month for the tenant and three months for the landlord. Watch out for popular pitfalls in Amsterdam contracts: check clauses on service charges for VvE contributions in monumental buildings and indexation linked to CPI. Invalid provisions such as unilateral termination by the landlord or prohibited 'buy-out' clauses are null and void. In case of doubt about qualification: contact the Rent Tribunal, with an office in Amsterdam Oost. Digital contracts via platforms such as Funda or Pararius must comply with eIDAS rules for validity. Specifically in Amsterdam, this framework prevents abuse by rogue landlords in the city centre and provides clarity at the start of your rental period in this tight market. (248 words)