How do I get the keys back to my rental home?

Questioner

The relatives of the last tenant of my house have caused several acts of vandalism in the property, left it filthy and refuse to return the keys. A report has been filed with the police (which is not being processed due to a lack of staff), they are liable and in default (the relatives do not respond to anything). My main concern now is to get the keys back.

Lawyer

I understand that this is a complicated situation. As a landlord, you have rights that you can exercise. Besides the fact that this is a civil law issue - where the tenant is liable for the costs of replacement and repair - there is also the issue of unlawful occupation, which is punishable under Dutch criminal law. You could take the following steps: 1. Send a registered letter to the surviving relatives stating that they are unlawfully occupying the property and that they must return the keys within a certain period, for example a week. You may wish to include with the letter evidence of the condition of the property, the police report and your previous efforts to make contact. 2. If they do not respond within the specified period, you can apply to the court for a court order. This is a request for the return of the property. If the court grants this order, the surviving relatives will be forced to return the keys or else they will be evicted from the property. In such situations, legal assistance may be advisable, as the request for a court order may provoke opposition. A lawyer or attorney can help you with this. You may also consider changing the locks if the property is currently unoccupied, although this will incur costs. This will help you regain control over your property. And if the damage and the cost of cleaning up are significant, you may want to consider taking the survivors to court to recover these costs. You will probably need the help of a lawyer for this. The above steps are just suggestions based on general Dutch law and regulations. It is always best to consult a legal expert who can help you with your specific situation. --------------- Stichting Rechtswinkel.nl is a national organization with students and volunteers. The above advice is based on limited information and may be incomplete or even incorrect for your situation. Always consult a lawyer or attorney for your further steps. Read disclaimer: https://rechtswinkel.nl/disclaimer I would like to invite you to rate the above answer so that we can learn from your response.