Tenancy agreement

A tenancy agreement is a written agreement between you and your landlord about renting a home. 

What is in a tenancy agreement 

A tenancy agreement is an important paper. It says that you may rent your home. It also says how much rent you pay, for how long, and what your rights and duties are. Your landlord must give you the tenancy agreement on paper, in a language you understand. 

Tenancy agreement is not an employment contract 

If you work through an employment agency or employer who also arranges your accommodation, you must get two separate contracts: one for work, and one for housing. As from 1 July 2023, these rules are mandatory in the Good Landlordship Act. Your employer or landlord is not allowed to combine them in just one contract. 

Subletting and subtenancy agreement 

You might rent a room or other accommodation from someone who rents themselves. This is called subletting. Even when subletting, there must be a clear contract, known as a subtenancy agreement. This states that you are renting from another tenant, not from the owner of the accommodation. It is an agreement between the tenant and the subtenant. Always ask if the owner of the accommodation permits this. 

If something is wrong 

if you do not get a clear tenancy agreement, or if the tenancy agreement is part of your employment contract, you can complain about this to the municipality. You do not have to say your name. The municipality checks whether the landlord is following the rules.