Amsterdam tenant forces rent reduction from 1200 to 380 euros and survives landlord's eviction attempt
An Amsterdam tenant successfully challenged an exorbitant rent payment, leading the Rent Tribunal to reduce their monthly costs from 1208 euros to approximately 380 euros. The landlord subsequently failed in court to evict the tenant, with a judge dismissing claims of rent arrears and improper business use of the residential property.
A tenant living in an Amsterdam apartment since December 2020 has successfully secured a significant rent reduction after the Rent Tribunal ruled that their monthly payment of 1208.34 euros was unreasonable. The tribunal determined the property only qualified for 63 points under the legal scoring system, far fewer than the 125 points claimed by the landlord, resulting in a new monthly rent of 380.18 euros. The property owner had calculated the apartment's value by dividing the total tax appraisal of the entire building by the number of units, a method rejected by the court.
Following the ruling, the landlord attempted to evict the tenant, alleging unpaid rent and improper use of the premises as an office. The court dismissed the eviction request, noting that the rent arrears were calculated incorrectly using the old rate and were insufficient to justify such a severe measure. Furthermore, the judge ruled that the tenant's registered home-based business did not violate their residential rights, as residents are generally permitted to work from home.
Based on reporting by parool. Translated and condensed by LocalHeadlines.
