The Procedure for Rental Disputes in Westland: Steps to the Subdistrict Court

In Westland, with its greenhouse complexes and agricultural rental properties in areas such as Naaldwijk, Monster, and Kwintsheul, tenants and landlords often encounter disputes over terminations due to seasonal work or housing shortages. In case of disagreement, a standard legal procedure is followed. Start with negotiations, followed by mediation at the Rent Commission in The Hague, which handles many Westland cases. If mediation is refused, the landlord must file a summons with the subdistrict court in The Hague, which has jurisdiction over Westland. The termination must be validly demonstrated within two months of the termination date. As a tenant, you can present a defense, for example, due to a lack of urgent reason as in the case of market garden tenancies or an insufficient notice period. The judge typically rules within a few weeks; tenants below the income threshold do not pay court fees. If the ruling is favorable to the landlord, eviction follows after two months, unless an appeal is lodged with the Court of Appeal. In practice in Westland, the judge rejects approximately 70% of terminations due to insufficient grounds, particularly for long-standing market gardening families. Document everything: termination letters, rent receipts, and WhatsApp conversations. In urgent cases, such as nuisance in a Poeldijk apartment, a summary proceeding is possible. Tenants with children or low incomes, typical in Westland, often receive a postponement. Costs: a lawyer is not mandatory; free advice is available via the Legal Counter in The Hague or Westland welfare organizations. These steps ensure fair handling and prevent unlawful evictions in our region.