VU continues to charge internationals a prohibited housing fee

Even after losing two court cases, VU continues to charge internationals mediation fees for arranging a place to live. Other universities and universities of applied sciences also charge housing fees.

Finding a place to live is not easy, especially from abroad. That is why international students at Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam can turn to the university for help. In exchange for a housing fee of 500 euros, VU helps them find accommodation. If this fails, they get their money back.

But charging money for this service is not allowed at all, the court has ruled, for the second time. Four American students, together with foundation !Woon, brought a case. VU must repay their money.

According to the court, the university operates as an ‘intermediary’, helping both tenants and landlords. It is legally prohibited for this type of intermediary to charge tenants (in this case the students) for its services.

Could cost millions

This is a heavy blow, and not only for VU. Other educational institutions also charge housing fees to internationals. According to VU, it could cost universities and universities of applied sciences millions if they are no longer allowed to charge housing fees.

VU will therefore continue to charge internationals 500 euros for the time being. “Charging the ‘housing fee’ is necessary in order to continue providing this support”, a university spokesperson says.

The university is considering an appeal against the ruling. Earlier, VU had also intended to appeal a similar ruling from 2024. But that did not succeed at the time, the spokesperson says, adding only that there were “too few legal grounds”.

Other universities

Educational institutions do not rent out student rooms themselves. This is done through housing corporations such as DUWO and through private landlords. They reserve rooms specifically for a university or university of applied sciences for internationals.

Like VU, Leiden University also charges a housing fee, according to its website. The same applies to the University of Amsterdam and TU Delft. The Hague University of Applied Sciences charges a fee of 275 euros and the Amsterdam University of Applied Sciences charges 485 euros.

Prohibited twice

Although they do not rent out rooms themselves, reserving rooms with landlords does cost money. The University of Amsterdam and VU, at least, have agreed that they pay for reserved homes that remain empty. This can happen, for example, if a student unexpectedly does not show up: in that case, the institutions pay the rent. To cover these and other costs, the institutions charge a housing fee.

But there is another reason to charge a housing fee. Universities of applied sciences and universities are not allowed to spend public money on student housing. Housing does not fall within their statutory duties. Public funds may only be spent on education, research and the sharing of knowledge.

Taken together, educational institutions find themselves in a difficult bind. They have agreed with landlords to pay compensation for empty rooms. But they are not allowed to pass these costs on to internationals as mediation fees, nor are they allowed to use public funds for them.

‘Explain better’

VU is not accepting the ruling and will explain the housing fee more clearly to internationals, a spokesperson says. Other institutions have also not yet abolished the mediation fees.

Foundation !Woon, which supports tenants in Amsterdam with practical and legal questions, is disappointed. The foundation has held several discussions with VU and, together with the internationals, has now twice been proven right in court. “It would be very strange if a university did not continue to comply with a court ruling”, says Ingrid Houtepen of the foundation.