Termination of indefinite-term rental contract

Questioner

My landlord wants to break the lease because he wants to renovate our home. We currently have a lease for an indefinite period, does he have a valid reason to break the lease?

Lawyer

Only if it concerns necessary renovation that is not possible without terminating the lease.

Lawyer

Renovation of a home may be a reason to terminate the lease if the renovation cannot reasonably take place if you continue to live in the home (Article 7:274 of the Dutch Civil Code). Please note that you do not have to agree to this. The landlord will then have to request the court to terminate the lease. It must therefore concern a renovation that makes it impossible for you to continue living in the home. A small renovation is not sufficient. Or a renovation for which you can stay in a hotel for a week, for example. It may be necessary to pay a contribution towards the moving and furnishing costs. It may also be necessary for the landlord to offer you a replacement or alternative and/or to contribute to the costs of moving. This depends on the specific circumstances of the case. Please feel free to contact me if you have any further questions or require legal assistance.

Questioner

This is about non-independent room rent and the landlord wants to renovate the building below us, which means our upstairs apartment may be without GWL for a long time. Is this still a valid reason, since nothing needs to be renovated in our building and should our landlord help us find an alternative? Or can we still refuse?