Rent Reduction After Exceeding WWS Maximum in Zoetermeer: Your Step-by-Step Guide

In Zoetermeer, where the rental market is under pressure due to the city's growth and the number of newcomers, it is crucial to be alert to exceedance of the WWS maximum. If your landlord in Zoetermeer exceeds this limit and you have already paid the higher rent, you can demand rent reduction. Pursuant to Article 7:232 of the Dutch Civil Code (BW), you can ask the cantonal court in Zoetermeer to reduce the rent to the legal maximum. Start with a formal registered letter to your landlord, in which you specify the exceedance with reference to the WWS figures for Zoetermeer via the RVO tool. Demand repayment of the overpaid amount, including dates, exact amounts, and the WWS percentage for that year – in 2024, that was 3.4% for most Zoetermeer rental properties. If the landlord does not respond within 14 days, then involve the Rent Committee for binding advice (for the regulated sector) or go directly to the cantonal court at the palace on the Markt in Zoetermeer. For unregulated sector properties in neighborhoods such as Buytenwegh or Seghwaert, the same procedure applies, but check locally whether your property falls below the liberalization threshold. Keep all payment proofs, tenancy agreements, and correspondence as evidence, and consult the Juridisch Loket in Zoetermeer for free advice if necessary. Successful claims in the region often lead to repayment plus statutory interest. Note: you have two years after the rent increase to litigate. This way, you effectively protect your rights as a Zoetermeer tenant against unlawful increases, especially with the rising house prices in this growth center.