Rent and payment
How is your rental price structured, and what monthly or annual costs do you have to take into account? Here, you will find information about your rent and payment obligations.
Net and gross rent
Your rental price consists of the net rent and (if applicable) an advance payment for service and/or heating costs and/or a service subscription.
The net rent (also called basic rent) is the amount you pay for the use of the residence. This is recorded at the start of the rental. After that, this rent will be increased annually per the agreements we have made in the rental agreement and/or based on the law and/or in the event of adjustments in the context of improvements to the residence.
If you add up the net rent, service costs and/or heating costs, and/or service subscription, you get the amount you pay monthly: the gross rent.
Service and heating costs
In addition to the basic rent, you often pay a monthly advance for the service and/or heating costs. These are costs for various general facilities, insurance, and services at the home or complex level.
Service costs for the home include, for example, the 24-hour service for the central heating system. For the building, you can consider, among other things, the cleaning costs of the general areas, general electricity consumption, and glass insurance. At the end of each year, a final statement of the actual costs is drawn up. Any excess or underpayment of costs will be settled annually. The advance can be re-indexed annually based on the amount that was due.
Service subscription
AHAM Vastgoed offers existing tenants the opportunity to take out a service subscription. For new tenants, it is a fixed part of the rental agreement.
If you opt for a service subscription, certain maintenance work, which by law is the responsibility of the tenant, will be carried out by and at the expense of the landlord. You pay a small monthly amount for this subscription.
Rent increase
The rent increase is implemented every year on July 1st. The government determines the maximum percentage by which the net rent for social housing may be increased annually. The rent increase for private sector homes is based on what has been determined between the tenant and the landlord in the rental agreement and/or what is legally possible.
We must announce the new rent for social housing to you as a tenant 2 months before these rates go into effect. This means that you will receive a rent increase letter from us before May 1st of each year if you rent social housing. When you rent a private sector home, there is, legally speaking, no required 2-month notice period. In this situation, it is sufficient that the notice date is before the start date of the new rental rates.
Besides the standard rent increase for social housing, an income-related rent increase can also be implemented. Each year, the Minister determines the income categories to which this applies and the percentage of the income-based rent increase that may be applied.
Rent increase agreements for properties other than residential housing may be freely agreed between the tenant and landlord at the start of the rental period.