Legal Consequences of House Peace Breach in Westland: What Happens After Filing a Report?
House peace breach by a landlord in Westland can lead to severe penalties. Article 138 of the Criminal Code provides for a prison sentence of up to six months or a fine of the third category. As a tenant in municipalities such as Naaldwijk, Monster or Kwintsheul, you can also pursue civil proceedings for damages via the District Court of The Hague, which has jurisdiction over Westland.
Criminal Consequences in Westland
The Public Prosecutor at the Public Prosecution Service in The Hague decides on prosecution. For a first offence in a Westland residential complex, a transaction proposal (fine) often follows. Repeated breaches, such as in greenhouse complexes with living spaces, lead to a criminal trial. Evidence such as key impressions, witness statements from neighbours or camera footage from greenhouse neighbourhoods is crucial. Local police in Westland register many reports of house peace breach by landlords in the horticulture district.
Civil Remedies for Tenants in Westland
- Damage claim: For emotional stress, material damage or devaluation of your rental property in Poeldijk or 's-Gravenzande.
- Rent reduction: Via the Rent Tribunal, demand up to 100% reduction for the period of the breach; in Westland often applied in seasonal greenhouse rentals.
- Termination of lease agreement: In case of structural breaches, judicial intervention via the District Court of The Hague, subdistrict section.
Practical Tips for Westland
Document everything: photos of break-in traces, emails with the landlord and police report from the Westland station. Immediately engage a tenancy law attorney via the Legal Aid Office in The Hague for a demand letter and proceedings. In 2023, the District Court of The Hague ruled that a landlord in Monster had to pay €6,500 in damages for unlawful entry into a rental property. The municipality of Westland advises tenants to report to the neighbourhood teams for swift follow-up.
By acting quickly, you effectively protect your right to quiet enjoyment of your home in the tight Westland rental market and deter future breaches by landlords.