Procedure at the Rent Assessment Committee in Amsterdam

The Rent Assessment Committee is the primary authority for rental disputes concerning price and points, particularly relevant for residents of Amsterdam in the busy rental market. Tenants and landlords in Amsterdam must submit a free application including property details, the rental contract, and specifics such as the WOZ-value from the Cadastre Basic Registration. Within eight weeks, a provisional judgment is issued, followed by a hearing, which often takes place in the North Holland region. The advice is binding unless an appeal is lodged with the District Court of Amsterdam. Costs remain low, with approximately €25 in court fees for appeals. In Amsterdam, the success rate for tenants is notably high in cases of exceeding the liberalisation threshold or errors in the points system, given the high property prices and stricter enforcement by the municipality. Preparation tip: gather photographs of the property, recent invoices for service charges, and conduct your own points calculation using the Housing Valuation System. The committee conducts independent assessments and takes into account Amsterdam-specific characteristics such as listed buildings or locations in popular neighbourhoods like De Pijp or Oud-Zuid. Decisions are public, set precedents, and alleviate the burden on the overloaded District Court of Amsterdam, while providing swift legal assistance in the competitive Amsterdam rental market.