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Housing Association Complaints Committee Amsterdam: your right to a complaints procedure

Discover how the housing association complaints committee in Amsterdam handles your complaint about maintenance, rent increases or landlord. Steps, laws and examples.

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Housing Association Complaints Committee Amsterdam: how to submit your complaint about your landlord

A housing association complaints committee in Amsterdam is an independent body that assists tenants in the city with disputes with their housing association or social landlord. Problems such as defective maintenance in Amsterdam homes, unreasonable rent increases or poor communication? You can turn here. The committee mediates and provides advice or binding decisions, depending on the case.

Why a housing association complaints committee in Amsterdam?

Many Amsterdam tenants are unaware of their right to a complaints procedure with housing associations such as Ymere or De Key. This procedure resolves disputes fairly between tenant and landlord. Handy for:

  • No response from your landlord to reports.
  • Unjustly rejected complaint about your home.
  • Binding decision without going directly to the Amsterdam District Court, Parnassusweg 220.
  • Conflicts over maintenance, rent price or service charges in Amsterdam.

The committee is independent and consists of experts in tenancy law and mediation, often tailored to the Amsterdam housing market.

Legal basis: relevant laws for Amsterdam

A complaints committee is not mandatory, but Amsterdam housing associations do have one, based on the General Administrative Law Act (Awb) and Housing Act 2015.

Key articles:

  • Article 7:10 Awb: procedure for complaints with housing associations.
  • Article 7:11 Awb: right to object to landlord decisions.
  • Housing Act 2015, Article 7:200 et seq.: rules for maintenance, increases and tenancy rights.

Housing associations publish their own complaints procedure in the tenancy agreement or on the website. For free advice: Amsterdam Legal Aid Office, Vijzelstraat 77.

How does the process work at an Amsterdam complaints committee?

Step by step in Amsterdam:

  1. Complaint to landlord: First report in writing (letter, email or form). Response within 4 weeks.
  2. Objection to committee: Not satisfied? Written objection with explanation.
  3. Investigation and hearing: Committee hears parties, often with mediation.
  4. Decision: Binding or advisory, depending on the procedure.

Processes vary per housing association, but follow standard lines.

Examples of complaints in Amsterdam

Practical examples from the city:

Type of complaint Example Possible solution
Maintenance Heating defective in your Amsterdam rental home, no response within legal term. Committee obliges landlord to quick repair.
Rent increase Unreasonable increase without good grounds. Assessment whether increase complies with rules.
Service charges Too high settlement of homeowners' association costs. Adjustment or repayment via committee.

For personal help: start with your housing association or the Amsterdam Legal Aid Office.