Termination of a short-term lease in Amsterdam
In Amsterdam, where the rental market is extremely tight, a short-term lease often ends automatically on the agreed end date, as intended in article 7:232 DCC. If the tenant wishes to terminate earlier, this must be done in writing, observing the notice period under article 7:271(1) DCC, unless the parties have agreed otherwise. Landlords in Amsterdam may not unilaterally terminate without judicial review, especially given the strict local controls on temporary rentals under the Amsterdam Housing Ordinance.
Procedure for automatic termination in Amsterdam
The landlord must inform the tenant in Amsterdam in writing at least one month before expiry about the termination. If this does not happen, the tenant may claim continuation of the lease under normal conditions. In Amsterdam practice, such disputes often lead to proceedings before the Rent Tribunal or the Amsterdam District Court, where the municipality actively intervenes in violations of temporary rental rules.
Rights in case of unlawful termination in Amsterdam
If a landlord in Amsterdam attempts to evict the property before the end date without a valid reason, this violates article 7:231 DCC. Tenants can claim damages through the subdistrict court or involve the Rent Tribunal. Extra important in Amsterdam: check whether the temporary rental has a valid permit from the municipality; otherwise, full rent protection applies and the landlord may be fined up to €22,000. Recent judgments from the Amsterdam District Court show that judges declare such contracts invalid in cases of abuse, with retroactive effect to regular tenancy and possible repayment of excess rent paid.