Permitted and Prohibited Service Charge Items in Westland

In Westland, with its many glasshouse horticulture companies and residential complexes in districts such as Naaldwijk, Monster and Kwintsheul, not all costs may be passed on to tenants as service charges. Permitted items include, among others, cleaning of common areas such as bicycle tunnels in Poeldijk, lift maintenance in apartment complexes along the Westlandseweg, building insurance against hail damage and household waste disposal via the local Waste Levy. Prohibited remain personal expenses, such as individual internet connections for home working in the greenhouses or replacement of tenant-specific appliances. According to Article 7:257 of the Dutch Civil Code (BW), service charges must be reasonable and market-conform, without a profit margin for the landlord – a rule that is strictly enforced in this region with many seasonal tenants. Tenants do not bear costs for structural major maintenance, such as roof repairs to VvE complexes in Honselersdijk, which are at the landlord's expense. Invoices must be demonstrable and traceable to the leased object, with specific attention to glasshouse horticulture-related facilities. For VvE complexes in Westland, additional rules apply via the deed of division, often adapted to local conditions such as wind load. Check whether costs are correctly split by consumption, area or greenhouse metre. Unlawful items, such as pass-through of promotion costs for Westland Promotie, may be refused and struck off. The Huurcommissie in The Hague may impose fines for repeated violations, and local tenant teams in Westland offer free advice. As a tenant in Westland: always request specifications, compare with regional market prices and consult the municipality for VvE rules. This article helps you in Westland to distinguish between legitimate and unlawful costs, so that you do not pay unnecessarily for your home or business premises. (278 words)