What about increasing rent in the private sector?

Questioner

My housemates and I are all going to move to other rooms in our student house. Our landlord wants to increase your rent. Is this allowed? What are the conditions? Can he just do this because we also have to sign a new contract? I read online that the basic rent may not be increased between July 1, 2021 and June 30, 2022. Does this also apply to us? If the landlord is allowed to increase the rent, what are the conditions? ps.: no maintenance has been done to our house in recent years. pps.: Our contract now consists of the basic rent plus operating costs. (Example of a housemate: basic rent €218 + operating costs €147.50) We have no idea where these 'service costs' go and whether it is a reasonable price to ask. Do we have the right to clarification of these service costs and to what extent is the landlord allowed to make a profit on them? Can we claim this back retroactively? We have question marks hanging over our heads! Maybe you can give us much more clarity. Thank you very much in advance and kind regards,

Lawyer

No, rent increases were not allowed this year for social housing, this also applies to rooms. Interim increases are only allowed if there are sustainable improvements. I would certainly ask for clarification regarding operating costs, not everything may be charged, but for example cleaning of common areas, upholstery, movable property, use of laundry and internet.