Guides
What does renting cost on top of the rent?
The rent in a listing is rarely everything you pay. Here is what comes on top, what the rules are, and which costs you don’t have to pay.
Deposit
Since 1 July 2023, the deposit for a home is at most two months’ basic rent. When you leave, the landlord repays it within 14 days if the home is left as agreed. If the landlord deducts costs for damage or unpaid rent, the rest follows within 30 days. Wear and tear from overdue maintenance may not be deducted.
Service charges
Service charges cover things like cleaning shared areas, a caretaker, or furniture in a furnished home. They must be reasonable and listed in the lease. Once a year you receive an overview of the actual costs; if you paid too much, you get it back.
Energy, internet and taxes
- Gas, water and electricity: often in your own name, sometimes as an advance through the landlord.
- Internet and TV: almost always arranged yourself.
- Municipal taxes such as waste collection charges, and water board taxes.
- Contents insurance: not required, but sensible.
Agency fees
An agent who works for the landlord may not charge you a fee. Not as mediation costs, and not under another name such as contract or administration costs. That is the ban on double agency fees, and it applies as soon as an agent acts for the landlord.
Do you hire your own rental agent, who works only for you? Then you pay that agent the fee you agreed with them.
Your first month
Example for a home of €1,800 basic rent with €75 service charges: the first month’s rent (€1,875) plus a deposit of at most €3,600 means you need about €5,475 before you get the keys, plus the costs of moving.