When you rent a home, you automatically take on certain responsibilities for maintenance. Some maintenance tasks and related costs fall under your responsibility as the tenant, while others are the landlord's responsibility. But how exactly does this division work? And what if you are renting from a provider like Hello Housing, which offers all-inclusive concepts?

Division of responsibilities: tenant vs. landlord

The Dutch government has set out basic regulations that outline who is responsible for what. These rules generally apply to every tenant and landlord unless a different arrangement has been explicitly agreed upon.

Tenant responsibilities

As a tenant you are responsible for:

• Daily maintenance, such as keeping drains clean to prevent clogs, removing household waste and cleaning the home and it's features. (e.g. the toilet, kitchen and ventilation grilles.)
• Small repair tasks, like replacing broken light bulbs or securing loose items such as stair railings, door handles or outlet covers. Replacing small parts in the home is also the tenant's responsibility when needed. Think of door handles, grilles, toilet seats or faucet components.
• Repairing damage caused by yourself. For example, a broken window, mirror or a wall that has been accidentally damaged.

There are also some responsibilities that you might not expect to fall under the tenant, such as:

• Sealing minor shrinkage cracks, which are common in new-build homes.
• Bleeding and refilling the central heating system, or restarting it after a shutdown.
• Creating a garden and it's maintenance. New-built homes often come with bare gardens. It's the first tenant's responsibility to create a basic garden.
• Interior painting. While painting walls when needed is widely know as a tenant's job, indoor woodwork like doors and doorframes are also included.

Landlord responsibilities

The landlord also has important responsibilities:

• Major maintenance, such as roof repairs, façade upkeep or exterior painting of window frames.
• Fixing issues not caused by the tenant, like leaks, wood rot or broken installations.
• Replacing or upgrading larger components. For example an outdated boiler of a rotting window frame.
• Basic garden set-up. For first time tenants in a new-built, the landlord must ensure there is a boundary fencing, access paths and, if needed, a driveway.

Hello Housing: all-inclusive renting without worries

At Hello Housing, we take a slightly different approach. We believe renting should be comfortable and worry-free. That's why all our homes are offered on an all-inclusive basis. This means:

• Unburdening. We take care of both major and minor maintenance.
• No extra charges for small repairs or upkeep.
• Always reliable and prompt service, even in emergencies outside office hours.
• One fixed monthly rent, including all service and maintenance.

Where other landlords leave certain responsibilities and costs to the tenant, at Hello Housing, we take care of them for you. No need to worry about leaky taps, clogged drains or central heating maintenance. We've got it covered.

Why Hello housing?

We believe in providing maximum living comfort. Our all-inclusive approach means tenants can live worry-free. No need to pick up tools or face unexpected costs. We make sure your homes stays in top condition - from floor to ceiling.

Want to know more about carefree renting?

Get in touch with us today.