Rental Dispute Procedure at the Canton Court in Westland

The rental dispute procedure at the canton court in Westland is the formal route when mediation fails, particularly relevant in this greenhouse horticulture municipality with much temporary housing for seasonal workers. Tenants and landlords in places such as Naaldwijk, Monster and Kwintsheul summon each other for matters such as eviction, rent reduction or defects in greenhouse dwellings (CC Book 7, Title 4). Procedure: summons via the court in The Hague (for Westland), defence, hearing with witness examinations and judgment. Court fees range from €85 to €500, plus lawyer optional. Term: 4-12 months, shorter in urgent cases. Specific to Westland: in urgent eviction of labour migrants, expedited procedure due to local shortage on the housing market. Evidence crucial: photos of leaks in greenhouses, invoices for repairs, emails with landlords from the glazing sector. Judge may order mediation during the process, often via the Juridisch Loket in The Hague. Outcome: judgment with penalty payments for non-compliance. Tenants have strongly protected tenancy law, landlord must prove 'reasonable ground', such as at the end of a temporary contract in horticulture. Alternative: Huurcommissie for pre-judicial review of rent prices, popular in Westland due to variable rates. Advantages: free legal aid for low incomes via the Juridisch Loket Westland, precedent effect for local cases. Disadvantages: time-consuming and costly due to travel time to The Hague. Tip: prepare file well with help from the Juridisch Loket or Woonlinie in Naaldwijk. In 2023, the canton court in The Hague handled over 25,000 rental cases, a significant portion from Westland due to housing shortage. Choose this route if amicable settlement with local landlords fails, for a definitive solution.