What is the 'Huurcommissie' and how does a proceeding against my landlord work?
The 'Huurcommissie', or Rental Committee, is a government body that adjudicates disputes between tenants and landlords. The Rental Committee is specifically qualified for rental disputes and offers more options than the normal court. For example, the Rental Committee is the only one who can make a binding decision about your rent. Procedures at the Rental Committee are usually started by submitting a form with standard questions. After that, the parties have the opportunity to respond to each other in writing before a hearing is scheduled. At the hearing, the parties defend their position in attendance of each other and the judicial board of the Rental Committee. A procedure with the Rental Committee usually takes about 8 months. If the landlord does not cooperate (fully) with the decision of the Rental Committee, the dispute must be submitted to a judge again. A court procedure usually takes about 6 months.