You are going to live in a new city or you start renting another apartment via our agency with another landlord soon. We can imagine you have questions which have been asked us before. We already gathered the information you might need before signing the contract or after your check-in. If your answer cannot be found, please contact us. We will be happy providing you with more information.
Additional cost
What are the cost for tenants on top of the rent?
Waste and sewage tax
The municipality of the city will charge one of the tenants annually per invoice for Municipal Resident Taxes, being waste tax and water board/sewage tax. Those tax invoices are applicable to all tenants of the apartment. Read more on the website of Rotterdam about the annual cost. Use the translate button in the upper right corner for English!Read more about waste and water tax on our website.
Utilities
Depending on the system in your apartment.. Gas (for the boiler: hot water and heating) and electricity are in most cases used. However 'stadsverwarming' is also there in Rotterdam. At this moment we cannot estimate the monthly cost due to the energy crisis and prices are not stable at all. More information about the utility system in the Netherlands. Of cours we will help every group setting up their accounts!Water
Water is not included always. Per person approximately 50 m3 per year will be consumed. Evides is the supplier for Rotterdam. More info about rates can be found on the website of Evides.Internet
Wifi internet is provided. Landlord is contractor and pays for the services. So those cost are included in the rent.Agency cost
Our agency will charge no cost to tenants.Check in | Check out
Check in
Once all paperwork and financial matters have been settled, a check in date and time can be planned. Please note that a check in only can take place on working days between 09.00 hrs and 18.00 hrs. An exception could be made, but it's not a privilege. Keys will be handed over. This is the right time to make pictures of the meter readings yourself as you need them for your utilities contract. A welcome e-mail will be send to the rep of your group, explaining how we work and what is expected from you.
Check out
When the end of the contract is near, the landlord or our agency will set a check out time with your group or the last one to depart. The apartment has to be empty and all belongings of tenants have to be out then. Especially trash and personal belongings that are not needed anymore will be looked at. The landlord is not a trash man! All sets of keys have to be handed over. Defects have to be reported. Don't forget to deregister and send a proof to the landlord or to us.
DEPOSIT
Why do I have to pay a deposit?
You pay the deposit to the landlord. This gives the landlord the guarantee that any damage to the rental property caused by the tenant can be (partly) compensated from the deposit. Keep your proof of payment (bank account transfer) of the deposit at hand. Then no misunderstandings will occur after check out a few years later.
What deposit do I have to pay?
In your rental agreement is stated what deposit you have to pay. In the Netherlands a deposit of two months is normal.
When will my deposit be returned?
- You rented the property as a group: As soon as the last flat mate checked out, there is no damage reported and you all deregistered and sent the proof of the deregistration to the landlord by email, your deposit will be returned. In general the deposit will be returned within 30 days after departure if all required documents (dereg forms) have been sent.
- You rented a room or are the only one of the group who leaves the property: As soon as the landlord received your proof of deregistration of the municipality by e-mail and no damage to your room was found, your deposit will be returned.
Electricity
How to solve an electricity break down?
In case of an electricity break down, go to the meter cupboard for the fuse box and look what kind of system there is in your apartment (see picture below). Follow the info on this picture. If a break down occurs again, please call the desk manager at: + 31 (0)6 39401712
Equipment stops working
Vacuum cleaner
Check if the dust bag is full. If yes, replace it by a new one. Order new dust bags on the internet. Choose the right one by using the brand and type number of your vacuum cleaner.
If there is no dust bag, empty the dust container.
If none of the above is not working, inform the desk manager.Washing machine
The machine stopped working in the middle of the program!
Check if the display indicates and error. If yes, look on the internet what the error means.
Check the filter of the washing machine. If the machine cannot get rid of the water, the machine will stop working. In this blog, you will read how to clean the filter.Boiler
If you have no hot water supply or heating anymore in your apartment, this most probably will be caused by the boiler that is not working properly anymore. Look on the display of the boiler what error is given. Make a picture and send it to the desk manager. Then he/she will be able to see what is the problem and can take appropriate action.
Dish washer
If your dish washer stops working, check the filter in the bottom first. Be sure there are no food rest in the filter. Clean the filter on a regular basis. Secondly check if you can reset your machine. Check out the brand and type number of the machine. This is in most cases printed on a label on the edge of the door. Look for the manual on the internet and find out the reset procedure. Read more how to keep your dish washer up and running.
Fridge
The door of the fridge doesn't close anymore... In most of the fridges there is a small freezer. Please check if you see ice deposition. If so, please defrost the fridge/freezer. If this isn't the problem, send a mail to the desk manager including pictures of the problem.
Fire safety
Simple tips and measures students can take to improve the fire safety of their apartment.
Furniture and equipment
What does fully furnished mean?
Fully furnished means that all equipment you might need in a household is already there.
- Cutlery, plates, cups, etc in the kitchen.
- Vacuum cleaner, microwave and/or oven, fridge, washing machine, dish washer
- Duvet, mattress and mattress cover in your bedroom (no bed sheets)
- Furniture to relax, sleep, eat.
- Lamps, curtains, bin.
In fact you only have to bring personal belongings. If you are missing items, please do not hesitate to ask for. Improving household goods can be an option.Internet
My Wifi internet is not working. What to do first?
Please reset the modem by pulling out the electricity plug from the outlet. Wait for 30 seconds. Put the plug back. The modem will restart and within 20 minutes your internet should be up again as usual. If not, please contact the desk manager and send a short video of the modem that shows what lights are burning or blinking. The provider will be contacted. From a distance the modem will be checked and if necessary a reset will be done again.
The provider could decide to send a technician to the spot. You will be informed about this and are kindly requested to open the door at the agreed time.The internet in our apartment is slower than before.
Please reset the modem first. On top of this page is told how to do this.
For what purpose does the landlord provide the internet?
Internet is provided for normal use: e-mailing, social media, surfing on the internet, video chatting and taking online classes. However if everybody in your apartment is downloading heavy stuff or gaming all the time, internet could be slow. This is not the responsibility of the landlord. So take your responsibility and don't bother your flat mates with your hobby activities.
Is it possible to increase the internet speed?
The subscription is the landlords' name and the speed for normal use (see question above) of the internet should be sufficient. If a speed test shows the speed is insufficient, please contact the desk manager and discuss this. The provider will be contacted to discuss what is going on and what they advise.
Miscellaneous
Clogged drains
Drains can be clogged easily if you don't clean regularly. Fat, hair and soap rest are most of the time causing a clogged drain. Read this blog to learn more about it.
Pest control
- What to do when I see a mouse in my apartment?
Please buy good mouse traps in the do it yourself store and place them where you think the mouse is hiding. But next to this and very important... you have to check if there are no food rest at all and you stored all food properly. Garbage has to be taken outside every day. If mice cannot find food anymore, they will disappear. If the problem persists, please inform the desk manager.- Bee or wasp nest
Please inform the desk manager by email and enclose a picture of the spot where the bees/wasps have their home. The pest control will come to destroy the nest. Bees are protected. This means a bee nest will not be taken away automatically.- Other creatures in the house?
Please contact the desk manager. He/she will contact pest control to check what is best to do. Don't wait too long as situations may escalate.Locks and keys
We sometimes get a request to open a door because nobody is at home and the one who is outside forgot his key. If we are able helping you easily because we are in your neighborhood, we will give it a try. Does it take time to reach you, you better can call one of your flatmates and check if someone is around soon... The landlord will be charged for the services if he has to send someone. Those cost will be transferred to you.
The lock doesn't work properly anymore. Please contact the desk manager asap. A lock specialist has to come and new spare keys have to be provided to all tenants.
If your key broke, a piece of the key is still in the lock and you cannot reach the desk manager anymore, please call a lock specialist yourself.
Lost your key? Please have a copy made at the Sleutelcentrale at Goudsesingel 45a. They have the best equipment to make a copy that fits the lock.
Registration
Is it possible to register at the municipality?
Yes you can register as soon as you checked in at your student apartment. Please ask the landlord or desk manager for a housing permit (verhuurdersverklaring) first. This form has to be issued for your registration at the municipality. Read more about registration in Rotterdam, Delft or Schiedam
Utilities
When do I have to register for utilities?
Two weeks maximum after your check in. Read in this article more about the utility system.
Waste
How does the waste system works in the Netherlands?
The municipality must collect your household waste. That's in the law. Each municipality can decide for itself how to do this. This way municipalities can pick up door to door. Or via a central assembly point in the street. Please click on the following cities to find out how it works in:
Rotterdam
Schiedam
Delft
Use google translate or the translation facility in the site itself to read the information in English.Where to drop my waste in my neighborhood in Rotterdam
Check this information about how Rotterdam organized waste collection in every part of the city.
Where can I leave my empty bottles in Rotterdam?
There are glass containers in many places in the city. That way you can easily hand in your old glass. Look for the nearest bottle bank in your area on this map with all district containers in Rotterdam. For a quick and clear overview, you can enter your home address or zip code.
Do I have to pay for waste collection?
Yes, every household will pay tax for the services the municipality offers to collect waste. On the webpage about taxes read more about this system.
