Check a tenancy agreement: what should I review before signing?
What would you like help with?
Detailed explanation, checklist and sources
First establish the residential contract, parties and price. Collect agreements and annexes; this preparation does not assess an individual clause or generate a lease.
On this page
1. Identify the accommodation
Record dwelling or room, address, shared areas and co-tenants. Business premises, holiday accommodation and vehicle hire do not automatically fall within this residential check.
2. Check parties and evidence
Check landlord, contact address, tenants and annexes. Residential agreements from 1 July 2023 must be recorded in writing by the landlord. An oral tenancy is not automatically invalid; keep messages and payments.
3. Separate the costs
Separate basic rent, service charges, utilities, payment date and deposit. Request the points assessment and advance-cost breakdown. For contracts from 1 July 2023 the maximum deposit is two months’ basic rent. Use our existing deposit and service-charge guidance.
4. Check duration and termination
Indefinite duration has been the norm since 1 July 2024; exceptions and older contracts require separate assessment. Check the basis for an end date, notice and minimum duration. Use the existing temporary-contract page; do not assume a universal notice period.
5. Record initial condition
Together record dated initial condition with photos, inventory, meters and keys. Note existing defects. Have unclear maintenance, access, penalty and increase clauses assessed; signing does not prove every clause valid.
6. Prepare targeted help
Keep your own missing-document and question list. Request corrections before signing; if already renting, do not simply stop payment. Report poor-landlord-rule breaches to the municipal reporting point; rent and service-charge disputes follow their own routes. Our help request does not send a contract.
Check a tenancy agreement: what should I review before signing?
First establish the residential contract, parties and price. Collect agreements and annexes; this preparation does not assess an individual clause or generate a lease.
Documents to prepare
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?
Parties and accommodation
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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.
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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.
Save and continue later
Clear entries
Download anything you want to keep first. Clearing cannot be undone.
- Parties and accommodation
- Annexes and conditions
- Basic rent, advances and deposit
- Points assessment and start date
- Duration, notice and increases
- Initial condition, questions and evidence
Contact with a lawyer
You can use the chat and information without a phone number. A contact request requires a phone number, a verified email address and your wish for telephone contact. Our team assesses which partner fits your question. Data is shared only under the stated consent procedure. A partner or engagement is not guaranteed.
View the current application processSources
Need personal assistance? Request a lawyer through our chat. We explain the next step; submitting a request does not engage a lawyer. The links below support the legal information.
Rijksoverheid huurcontract ↗Volkshuisvesting regels ↗Rijksoverheid tijdelijkehuur ↗Sources may be in Dutch. General information about Dutch law, not individual legal advice.