How to reclaim unjust agency fees
28 april 2015 - A lot of expats living in Amsterdam have paid a fee to an agent. According to Dutch law in most cases this is not permitted. Here you can read what you can do if you did pay a fee. This is a remake of our blog from october 2014. How to reclaim unjust agency fees If you rented an apartment in the past five years and you were charged agency fees, usually about a month’s rent plus taxes, this might not have been legal. If so, you might be able to claim this money back. This article offers guidelines on how to do this. Because there is a conflict of interest, between the landlord and the tenant, letting agencies are not allowed to represent both parties at the same time. They can only represent either the landlord or the tenant. This has been determined by several judges, as well as by the Dutch consumer authority ACM (Autoriteit Consument en Markt). The agency is only allowed to charge the party they are allowed to represent. If that is the landlord then the agency cannot charge the tenant, and the tenant does not have to pay the agency. If the tenant has already paid s/he can claim a refund. So legally, who does your agency represent: the landlord or the tenant? Usually the first one to contact the agency about the apartment is considered to be the client. If the agency advertised the apartment-to-rent on a website then the landlord was clearly the first to contact the agency (according to the ACM consumer authority as well as several court verdicts). This means the agency is representing the landlord and the tenant should not be charged an agency fee. If you live in Amsterdam, contact the Wijksteunpunt Wonen or the Meldpunt Ongewenst Verhuurgedrag for an assessment of your personal situation, they can help you to get the fee back. Some cities have “huurteams” who might be able to assist. You can also contact the nearest Juridisch Loket legal support agency, or a lawyer (for example if you have legal insurance). You can search online for companies or lawyers specialising in reclaiming agency fees. They tend to work on a “no cure no pay” basis. If you win, a pre-determined percentage is deducted from the refunded sum. Below is a list of some of these agencies. You can also start by doing (some of) the work yourself. Here is an explanation how you could claim a refund. The legal documents, like the sample letters and the sample summons, are in Dutch. Write a letter to the agency This letter needs to include the following information: There are sample letters on: Please send your letter by registered mail as well as by regular mail and make sure you keep a copy. Go to court If the agency doesn’t refund your agency fee you will need to go to court. If you wish you can have someone represent you, like a lawyer or another expert. But you are also allowed to represent yourself. If you want to pursue the case yourself you will need to write a summons. The NVM (Dutch realtors’ organisation) provides a sample summons, see also their page on commission. We wish you all the best and hope you will receive the refunds you are owed! More background information (in Dutch) https://www.consuwijzer.nl/huis-tuin/makelaar-notaris/welke-kosten-mag-huurbemiddelaar-rekenen Some commercial agencies who offer to claim back agency fees. We only have experience with Guido Zijlstra. Good luck! And please inform us if you have any news!
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