In the case of rent arrears in the private sector in Zoetermeer, the landlord can request dissolution of the lease and eviction through the subdistrict court of the District Court of The Hague, Zoetermeer location. First, the landlord issues a written warning with a 14-day payment recovery period. If payment is not made, a summons follows. Grounds for eviction include rent being at least three months overdue or repeated arrears, as is often seen in Zoetermeer’s new-build neighbourhoods such as Oosterheem or Rokkeveen.
Tenants can defend themselves by providing proof of payment, addressing issues with housing allowance through the Zoetermeer municipality, or citing defects due to maintenance deficiencies, for example, in flats along Rokkeveenseweg. The court considers reasonableness and fairness; during the COVID-19 periods, leniency was applied through local tenant support teams. The procedure costs €85 in court fees, and the tenant is liable for legal costs if they lose. Urgent eviction is possible in cases of danger, such as nuisance in Zoetermeer’s problem neighbourhoods.
Prevention: propose a payment plan via the Zoetermeer Tenants’ Association or the Housing Information Centre. The Good Landlordship Act obliges landlords to act reasonably. In 2023, evictions in Zoetermeer decreased by 25% due to interventions by the local Tenant Support Team Zoetermeer and debt assistance from SchuldHulpMaatje. Seek free help from the Legal Counter Zoetermeer or the municipality for rent arrears prevention.