Who is responsible in case of damages to the property?

Although there is always a grey area, the Dutch law is pretty clear on which costs are for the account of tenant and which are for landlord. The legislator has recorded this in what is called the ‘besluit kleine herstellingen’. The rule of thumb is that major maintenance are for the costs of landlord and the smaller maintenance jobs are for tenant.

It’s important to mention that a tenant is also financially responsible when they have caused the damages to the property. In this case, it doesn’t matter whether it’s listed under major maintenance or small maintenance jobs.

More from our blog:

06 June, 2025

Selling Dutch properties from abroad. Complicated?

Unfortunately, we find ourselves in a market wherein property owners sometimes feel forced to sell their rental properties in the Netherlands. ...
Read more
Servicekosten appartementencomplex
28 May, 2025

Insurance for letting (and renting) a property

The importance of the right insurance is widely understood, but many private landlords don’t realise that a standard homeowners’ insurance policy ...
Read more