Politics · Other · 4 hrs ago
Rotterdam renters still face excessive rents, watchdog says
A Rotterdam watchdog says many private landlords still charge excessive rents despite the city's efforts to enforce rent rules.
The national Affordable Rent Act took effect in July 2024, setting a points system to limit what landlords can charge and giving municipalities powers to warn or fine landlords.
Rotterdam has about 213,000 rental homes, nearly seven in 10 owned by housing corporations, but tenants must report suspected overcharging before the city can intervene.
By March, the city had received just 212 reports, and rents were reduced in only 34 homes.
The watchdog says fear, intimidation and low trust deter tenants from reporting, while only 30% of renters surveyed had some idea where to seek help.
It also says enforcement has been too cautious, with no fines or homes taken over during the review, and estimated that each euro of rent reduction cost the city 95 euros.
The watchdog wants repeat offenders targeted and stronger penalties used sooner, and the city has largely accepted its recommendations; Rotterdam says enforcement was tightened shortly before summer.
Rotterdam’s audit chamber says many private landlords still charge excessive rents despite the city’s efforts to enforce rent limits.
Only 212 reports of excessive rents had reached the city by March 2026, and rents were reduced in 34 homes.
The audit chamber says the approach is costly and calls for stronger action against repeat offenders.
It also says tenants may avoid reporting landlords because of fear, distrust of government or intimidation.
The city has tightened enforcement and is adopting almost all of the audit chamber’s recommendations.
- Who
- Rotterdam’s audit chamber assessed the city’s enforcement of rent rules.
- What
- It found that many private landlords still charge excessive rents and urged stronger enforcement.
- When
- The investigation assessed the city’s approach since the Affordable Rent Act took effect in July 2024.
- Where
- Rotterdam, the Netherlands.
- Why
- Few tenants report excessive rents, and the audit chamber says the city’s enforcement has produced limited results.
Rotterdam Audit Chamber
Rotterdam municipality
Enforcement
Rotterdam Audit Chamber
The audit chamber says the city should act more firmly against repeat offenders and use stronger measures sooner.
Rotterdam municipality
The city had taken a cautious approach, but tightened enforcement shortly before summer and is adopting almost all the recommendations.
Results
Rotterdam Audit Chamber
The audit chamber says the approach has yielded few rent reductions and is costly.
Rotterdam municipality
The municipality has sought reports through a campaign and home visits; it says all Rotterdam residents deserve a safe and affordable place to live.
The Affordable Rent Act took effect, giving municipalities more ways to address excessive rents.
Rotterdam had received 212 reports of excessive rents, and rents had been reduced in 34 homes.
The city took no rental homes into management and imposed no fines, according to the audit chamber.
The municipality tightened its enforcement, Kockelkoren said.
- Rental homes
- About 213,000 in Rotterdam
- Housing corporations
- Own nearly 7 in 10 of the city’s rental homes
- Reports
- 212 received by March 2026
- Rent reductions
- 34 homes
- Audit chamber estimate
- Each euro of rent reduction costs the municipality 95 euros
- Carnisse
- The city suspects at least 60% of tenants pay excessive rent or live in poor conditions
What people are saying
The worse the landlord's behavior, the lower tenants' willingness to report. These are precisely the tenants the law is meant to protect.
We see that reports are not made, often because of fear of the consequences, little trust in government, or intimidation by the landlord.
Every euro of rent reduction costs the municipality 95 euros.
Everyone in Rotterdam deserves a safe and affordable place to live.