Can I be evicted due to rent arrears?
What would you like help with?
Have you received a summons or an eviction date? Seek help immediately and do not let any hearing or response deadline pass.
Detailed explanation, checklist and sources
A landlord may not remove you from the property themselves. Termination of the lease and eviction normally require a court judgment.
General information about Dutch law · Reviewed on · How we work
Your personal starting plan
Start with these three steps. Open the explanation that fits your situation and then complete your checklist.
Go to your checklist and preparation
This starting plan helps you prepare and saves nothing automatically. It is not an individual legal assessment and does not monitor deadlines.
On this page
Contact someone immediately
Make an overview of the arrears and your current ability to pay. Ask the landlord in writing for a feasible payment arrangement and, if possible, pay the current rent on time to limit further accumulation.
Respond to a summons
In legal proceedings, the landlord may seek termination, eviction, interest and costs. Attend or respond on time and bring evidence of payments, income and a concrete proposal.
Avoid additional costs
In addition to rent arrears, collection, legal proceedings and bailiff costs may arise. Seek municipal debt assistance early and check whether early-warning procedures have already led to an offer of help.
Your checklist
Prepare your next stepFill in and save · Word
Tick what you have checked or collected. Note what is missing and take your overview to a meeting.
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Item 1 / 6 · Where do you stand with this item?
Exact rent arrears per month
This overview follows your own answers. It does not assess your rights or guarantee that your file is complete.
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View all details, notes and timeline
Your timeline and evidence
List events and contacts. Note where you keep the evidence; no upload is needed.
What goes in my timeline?
Record what happened, when, the response and where to find the letter, message or photo. Mark uncertain dates.
Is my evidence sent?
No. You only note where it is kept. No files are uploaded or sent automatically.
How do I save my timeline?
Your entries are not saved automatically. Choose Save and continue later to store this preparation, including your timeline, in My overview. Wait for confirmation and save new changes again. You can also download a Word file without an account.
Up to 20 events. Choose a different position for an event to change the order.
0 / 6 · Checked or collected
For each event, note the date, what happened and where the evidence is kept. Example: 3 October — letter received — correspondence folder.
Describe the solution you would like, such as an explanation of a deduction and repayment of the outstanding amount.
For example: which document is missing, who can provide it and what should I do first?
Record the date and its source. If unknown, note this and check promptly. This tool does not calculate or monitor deadlines.
After your conversation
These are your own notes. Confirm agreements with the other person; these notes do not prove their agreement.
This is your preparation, not a submitted request, objection or legally reviewed document. A tick records only your own progress. Check the procedure and deadline in the original letter.
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Clear entries
Download anything you want to keep first. Clearing cannot be undone.
- Exact rent arrears per month
- Current rent from now on
- Letters from the landlord and bailiff
- Proposal for a payment arrangement
- Date of hearing or eviction
- Application for municipal debt assistance
Frequently asked questions
Can the landlord change the locks?
Not to remove you from the property without a court-ordered eviction. Seek help immediately if you are denied access.
Does three months of arrears always automatically mean eviction?
No. The court assesses the circumstances, but the risk is serious in the event of substantial or repeated arrears.