Duwoners.nl

Many foreign tenants of DUWO probably rent their apartments for too high prices and Short Stay Housing contracts should not be restricted to one year. This is the outcome of a court case against housing cooperation DUWO, which was held in May 2009. The judgement (in Dutch) can be found under downloads “Uitspraak van de kantonrechter over short stay” [part 1], [part 2], [part 3], [part 4]. DUWO normally uses SSH contracts for students and researchers from abroad, which are hundreds of euros per month higher than normal contracts.

The court decided that these “all-in contracts” are illegal in the Netherlands and that DUWO need to specify the various service costs. For example, the court had forbidden include costs for the months when apartments are not inhabited (often summer months).

In Holland PhD students are often employers of the university (not students), like the person who took his case to the court. So, it is not fully sure if the judgment is also valid for normal bursary or M.Sc students. Duwoners has not received information yet how DUWO is going to change the contracts and if foreign tenants are going to be re-imbursed.

More information, only in Dutch, can be found on our website (Vervolg Sciencepark en uitspraak Eenhoorn) or on the Tranfermagazine website (Bom onder huisvesting internationale studenten door uitspraak rechter). If you need more information (in English) please contact Duwoners.

Laaste wijziging: 19-01-2010