Duwoners

Compensation for energy costs: Apply for it quickly at the municipality

Duwoners — Tue, 23 Jul 2024 21:51:26 +0000

The municipality of Amsterdam (Gemeente Amsterdam) has made an energy costs compensation available of €1,000 / €1,800 (depending on income and assets) per household. As a student, you are (still) not eligible for this. It often happens that students are excluded from these kinds of measures, usually because tailored solutions are provided for them by the central government. In this case, however, students are completely left out. This is why various experts have indicated that excluding students from this surcharge is discriminatory. Excluding an entire group requires a valid reason, which is not the case in this situation.

Studentenvakbond ASVA has come up with a solution for this: by making formal objections en masse against the rejection, we force the municipalities to engage in a discussion about excluding students from this allowance, even though many students desperately need the extra support. Handling an objection, then an appeal, and potentially a court procedure all take a lot of time, especially when dealing with large numbers. That’s why it’s extremely important for as many students as possible to help pressure the municipalities. And of course, you’re helping yourself as well!

The application form is available on the website of the Municipality. Submit an application to the Municipality of Amsterdam for the energy costs compensation and file an objection before December 31, 2022. First, check the ASVA website for the step-by-step plan so you know exactly what you can do. ASVA can even assist you with the entire application.

Important! As a student, you are initially not eligible for the compensation. Therefore, only indicate in the comments at the end that you are a student, not earlier.

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ZZW New Years Toast 2022

Duwoners — Tue, 23 Jul 2024 21:38:36 +0000

On New Year’s Eve, an event took place on Zuiderzeeweg where residents gathered to have a meal together and toast to the end of the year before everyone headed into New Year’s Eve. This event was organized by the residents’ committee of the complex. Read their report here:

There was mashed potatoes, mulled wine, painting, music, people could take photos in the photobooth, create a hopscotch course, and more. Fortunately, we had rented a large tent because it rained and was windy for the majority of the day. The tent kept us dry and warm, and also made it much more festive with all the lights and decorations we had put up.

ZZW Proostmoment 2022

Some residents stayed around Zuiderzeeweg for the midnight moment, while others went into the city or spent time elsewhere. It was a very enjoyable afternoon/evening, and it was nice to see that residents enjoy coming together and getting to know each other (better). Some residents who don’t usually participate in neighborhood committee activities also attended. We hope that with this day, we have shown that the residents’ committee is for all residents of Zuiderzeeweg, and that we can now involve them more in the community. All in all, this means good things for the time ahead on Zuiderzeeweg!

Glühwein

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Support For Renovations Opaallaan

Duwoners — Tue, 23 Jul 2024 20:21:07 +0000

At the beginning of 2022 DUWO announced to us their intention to transform the rooms of three towers (1, 8, and 10) on Opaallaan into independent housing, as well as major maintenance required due to the age of the buildings. The work is so extensive that it can only be done if the towers are empty. The work will take place (in a kind of sequence) per tower. For this, 70% of the residents in each tower must agree to the proposed renovation and the accompanying social plan. This social plan offers relocation allowances and guaranteed rehousing on the complex for tenants who are still enrolled in an educational institution.

Tower 1 is scheduled to be empty by July 1, 2023. Tower 8 by February 2024. Tower 10 by October 2024. At the end of 2022, DUWO asked the residents of Tower 1 to agree to the renovation. Recently, DUWO informed us that 80% of the tenants in Tower 1 have agreed to the renovation. Therefore, it can proceed. Tower 1 must be empty by July 1, 2023. DUWO will encourage the remaining 20% of residents to agree to the renovation. If necessary, DUWO will take the matter to court. The court will then assess it according to Civil Code no. 7, article 220.

Tenants in towers 1, 8, and 10 who require information and support from Duwoners regarding the announced renovation can always contact us.

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Students’ response to Amsterdams Approach to Housing (AAV)

Duwoners — Tue, 23 Jul 2024 20:05:56 +0000

On February 13th, Alderman Pels presented her Amsterdam Approach to Housing (AAV). This is a comprehensive policy document outlining the plans for the housing and construction policy of the municipality. Together with seven other organizations representing the interests of young people and students, we have presented a response to this AAV. Read our response to the AAV here.

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Advise concerning adjusting DUWO’s service subscription

Duwoners — Tue, 23 Jul 2024 19:53:25 +0000

On November 28, 2023, DUWO requested advice on a proposal regarding the cost adjustment of the service subscription (SA). The argument for this price increase is that the current prices of the SA are not cost-effective, and DUWO aims to move towards a situation where this is the case. Although this argument is considered justified by Duwoners, there is a lack of supporting information necessary to agree to this proposal. Therefore, Duwoners gives a positive recommendation on this proposal, subject to a number of conditions outlined in the advice.

Read the full advice here: Advice on adjusting service subscription.

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Delayed settlement of service costs

Duwoners — Tue, 23 Jul 2024 19:52:59 +0000

As you may have heard from Duwo, there is a delay this year with the settlement of the service costs. During the settlement the advance payment for electricity, gas, and heating, among other things, is settled with the actual costs incurred. Duwo, as the landlord, is legally obligated to finalize this settlement by July 1st. Due to an issue with Duwo’s administrative systems, the service cost settlement has been delayed. Duwoners, as the tenants’ association, is in contact with Duwo regarding this matter. We are closely monitoring the situation, and of course, we are not pleased with the delay. It is expected that the settlement will be issued in August for some of the complexes. As a tenants’ association, there is little we can do about the situation, but it is important to continue voicing our concerns to DUWO, as the delay is actually unacceptable. If you have any questions or issues regarding the service cost settlement, please do not hesitate to contact us!

Once the settlements are received by us, we will make them available in your personal Duwoners environment. You can find an explanation of this environment here. By logging in, you will have access to these documents. This way, each individual tenant can review their service cost settlement. If you have any questions about the environment that are not answered by the explanation on our website, please contact us.

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Kings Day at Zuiderzeeweg

Duwoners — Tue, 23 Jul 2024 19:51:01 +0000

This year Kings Day was celebrated on Zuiderzeeweg as usual with the local residents. People brought their old items, creating a mini flea market. Poffertjes were handed out from a kitchen window – cooked by two residents who spent the entire afternoon continuously baking. In addition, various traditional Dutch games were organized, such as ‘cookie hanging’ and ‘nail pooping’. Especially fun for the international students, who of course didn’t know what was happening when they saw their neighbors blindfolded, biting gingerbread from a rope. Additionally, games like shuffleboard, chess, and spike-ball were played. It was a cheerful, sunny, orange day where many neighbours got to know each other.

Koekhappen

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Advice regarding package walls

Duwoners — Tue, 23 Jul 2024 19:50:43 +0000

Tenants in large complexes sharing an entrance have been complaining for years about lost packages due to delivery drivers leaving them at the entrance. In response to these complaints, DUWO conducted a pilot project with package walls in various complexes. Package walls ensure that packages are securely stored and can only be unlocked by the recipient. The pilot project was positively evaluated by tenants; however, a minority was willing to pay for this service. For DUWO, it is not feasible to offer this service for free.

DUWO asked for our advice regarding the installation of package walls and including the costs in the service fees.

You can read our advice here. Curious about all the advice we have written so far? View them here.

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General Meeting of Members (ALV) 2024

Duwoners — Tue, 23 Jul 2024 19:47:47 +0000

This year we are organising our general meeting of members (ALV) on the evening of Wednesday, March 6, 2024, from 8:30 PM to 9:15 PM. During the ALV, we will present the policy plan for 2024. The board for the upcoming year will also be elected. The ALV is the perfect opportunity to voice your opinions and ideas, so feel free to join! If you are part of one of the residents’ committees or are a member of Duwoners, you are more than welcome to attend our General Members’ Meeting.

You can sign up by sending an email to info@duwoners.nl.

Here are the documents for the ALV:

1. Agenda Interim General Members’ Meeting 06-03-2024

2. Current board

3. Candidacy for 2024

4. Policy Plan 2024

5. Concept Minutes General Members’ Meeting Duwoners 07-06-2023

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What does the Rent Tribunal do?

Duwoners — Wed, 17 Jul 2024 10:00:27 +0000

The Rent Tribunal is an independent organisation that can issue binding rulings in disputes between tenants and landlords. With the contracts DUWO offers to students, you can go to the tribunal for complaints relating to the initial rent (up to 6 months after entering into the contract), the service costs and the maintenance of your individual residence or communal areas.

An example of a procedure you can take is the annual settlement of the service costs. DUWO is legally obliged to send the annual settlement of service costs before 1 July. If they fail to do so, request the service charge statement in writing. Have you still not received them after 3 weeks? Then you can start proceedings before the Rent Tribunal.

Have you received the statement and do not agree with the costs? Ask DUWO to adjust the costs. If they do not agree, you can start proceedings before the Rent Tribunal.

You can read the specific conditions here. Pay close attention to the deadlines you have to observe as a tenant to be eligible for proceedings.

How do proceedings at the Rent Tribunal work?

Please note that a procedure before the Rent Tribunal can only be initiated in Dutch. Please do ask a friend(ly neighbour) to help out!

The proceedings start by filling in a form submitted to the Rent Tribunal. Normally, starting proceedings costs €25. If you receive rent allowance, you can apply for an exemption.

Please note: DUWO will receive a copy of the form from the Rent Tribunal, as it is obliged to report that proceedings have been started.

If the case is clear, you will receive a written ruling.

If the case is less clear, further investigation may be carried out by the Huur Tribunal. This is followed by a hearing. You can attend this online or on location, and it takes about 15 minutes. You will receive the ruling within 6 weeks.

What happens if you are proven right or wrong?

The Rent Tribunal can issue a binding decision or an opinion. In most cases involving temporary contracts/social housing tenancies, a binding decision is given.

If you win the case, DUWO is obliged to comply with the Rent Tribunal’s ruling. If you paid €25 to start the procedure, you will get that money back.

If you lose the case, you can issue an appeal with the Rent Tribunal, and eventually you can still go to the subdistrict court. If you paid €25 to start the procedure, you will not get the money back.

Support for the proceedings

For further guidance regarding the proceedings, we also refer you to Stichting !WOON. Amsterdam has been the only major city in the Netherlands with extensive tenant support for 30 years. !WOON is also active in Haarlem and Amstelveen. In each city district, !WOON has a branch. There are experts who, among other things, carry out home inspections to identify defects and help tenants send letters of complaint to the landlord. They also provide support when going to the Rent Tribunal. See English information and support for tenants | !WOON (wooninfo.nl)

In addition, Duwoners is always happy to think along with you about the feasibility of a procedure, and the right approach.

Any questions? Send an email to info@duwoners.nl

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