{"id":156022,"date":"2023-06-08T13:43:07","date_gmt":"2023-06-08T11:43:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.erasmusmagazine.nl\/en\/?p=156022"},"modified":"2025-12-19T11:26:49","modified_gmt":"2025-12-19T10:26:49","slug":"new-message-from-your-landlord-pay-up-or-start-looking-for-a-new-place","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.erasmusmagazine.nl\/en\/2023\/06\/08\/new-message-from-your-landlord-pay-up-or-start-looking-for-a-new-place\/","title":{"rendered":"New message from your landlord: pay up or start looking for a new place!"},"content":{"rendered":"

As they renew their housing contracts for next year, students are concerned about the brand new, \u2018ramped-up\u2019 rent prices, in some cases increased more than is allowed by law. Their budgets already hit hard with inflation, three students Blanka, Malak and Klaudia consider the increases \u2018unfair\u2019.<\/p>

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\u201cI don\u2019t find the increase reasonable at all\u201d, says Blanka Szab\u00f3 (21), second year International Business Administration student from Hungary. Her rent has been increased from 700 to 750 euros (7 percent), which is quite possibly the best case scenario for many internationals. \u201cWhen I look at the new contract, the heating cost has been increased, even though I hardly use it. I\u2019m already paying so much\u201d, she says.<\/p>\n

Second-year Psychology student Malak Omar (21) saw an even bigger 14 percent increase: \u201cCurrently I pay 745 Euros, and next year it would be something around 850\u201d. Similar to Blanka, she doesn\u2019t agree with the raise: \u201cWe\u2019re five people living in a house, so if it\u2019s more than a hundred euros extra per person, I think that\u2019s a bit absurd\u201d, she states.<\/p>\n

Klaudia Kostrz (22), a Polish student of Economics and Business Economics, sees the landlord\u2019s point: \u201cObviously the landlords also need to make more money due to inflation. I actually expected the increase to be much higher.\u201d Her rent was increased by almost 8 percent, to around 800 euros including utilities.<\/p>\n

Downgrade everything<\/h2>
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\n\t\n\n<\/svg>\n<\/span>\n\tImage by:<\/span>\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tFemke Legu\u00e9<\/a>\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\t

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\n\t\t\u2018I don\u2019t know if I can be more cautious, I already do everything I can think of\u2019\n\t<\/blockquote>\n\n\t<\/figure>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n

The students are stressed out about what these increases will mean to their budgets. Especially Malak, who\u2019s going to have to cut down considerably on essentials like food and groceries, and will spend less money on clothing and traveling.\u201d It\u2019s very tough because I shouldn\u2019t have to compromise on food\u201d, she states. She would have to resort to cheaper options on other expenses as well: \u201cEven things like my sim card, I\u2019d also have to find a cheaper subscription for my bike. I have to downgrade everything.\u201d<\/p>\n

In Blanka\u2019s case, her budgeting plan was already based on simply spending as little as possible: \u201cI don\u2019t know if I can be more cautious, I already do everything I can think of. I don\u2019t eat out, I always cook, only buy necessities, don\u2019t go to hairdressers or get my nails done, nothing. What I buy is food and that\u2019s it.\u201d<\/p>\n

Since she has a job, Klaudia is not worrying about her finances too much, but she sympathises with her roommate: \u201cMy roommate told me that before the rent increased last year, she could spend it on things like ordering food or traveling. Now, she has to watch her money carefully.\u201d<\/p>\n

Abuse of power<\/h2>

The three students all agree that there should be more enforcement when it comes to the amount of increase landlords can impose on the rent. \u201cEspecially for international students who aren\u2019t familiar with the Dutch housing system, I think it\u2019s very easy for landlords to take advantage of our situation.\u201d says Malak. \u201cBecause we\u2019re very concerned about finding a place, landlords think we\u2019\u2019d comply to whatever they say. They have all the power.\u201d<\/p>\n

Klaudia: \u201cWhat if the landlord just tells you: I\u2019m increasing the rent by 10 percent. That\u2019s crazy, right?\u201d She demands more fairness in the housing market in general. \u201cWhen I was looking for apartments, some specifically said they\u2019re only looking for Dutch people. If I can afford it, why can\u2019t I move in? That\u2019s definitely unfair.\u201d<\/p>\n

Blanka didn\u2019t dare to ask for a lower price. She says: \u201cWe were already at a critical moment negotiating me subletting, so I didn\u2019t want to be problematic and give him a reason for not renewing my contract.\u201d Blanka agrees with Malak that landlords have \u2018all the power\u2019 and according to her, they abuse this power. She gives an example: \u201cSome of my friends have two-year contracts, and their rent still increased in their second year.\u201d<\/p>\n

No choice<\/h2>

The three students are able to pay the rent for next year, but they are still concerned with the years following. Malak: \u201cIt\u2019s a crisis. It has become so hard to find affordable housing here. In the next few years, if I want to stay after my studies, I may have no choice but to go back home.\u201d<\/p>\n

A suggestion Klaudia has to improve the situation is to give financial aid to some students: \u201cIf I was a struggling student and I was given a grant for the rent increase, that would be nice. Some people wouldn\u2019t have to move out.\u201d Without enforcement of the regulations or aid, students will continue to be put in tough situations. Klaudia: \u201cAt this point, you either find a cheap place that is probably below the standard, or you just pay. Or you go back home.\u201d<\/p>\n

The Dutch housing market is in fact already regulated<\/a>. Rent of rooms (excluding utilities) can only be increased by 3.1 percent in 2023. The rent of houses in the free market can be increased by 4.1 percent.<\/p>\n\n\t

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