Rotterdam tenancy lawyer: English-speaking help with your deposit, your rent and a landlord who wants you out
Dutch tenancy law protects you in Rotterdam whether or not you speak Dutch. Start with a free 15-minute call, and we connect you with an English-speaking Dutch tenancy lawyer when a lawyer is the right step.
FindLawyer gives practical initial guidance, prepares your case and matches you with a suitable independent lawyer. Legal advice comes from the partner lawyer.
FindLawyer is a matching service, not a law firm · Rules checked 15 September 2026
Short answer
Looking for a Rotterdam tenancy lawyer who speaks English? FindLawyer is a lawyer matching service, not a law firm: you start with a free 15-minute consultation, and if a lawyer is the right step we connect you with an independent English-speaking Dutch tenancy lawyer, with the fees explained before you proceed. For a deposit, eligible tenants use a fixed €49 coordination route with no €188 lawyer fee upfront. Rent and eviction matters are quoted after the free call.
Key facts for 2026
- 15 minutes is the length of the free first consultation with FindLawyer.
- €49 is the fixed coordination fee on the deposit route, with no €188 lawyer fee upfront for eligible tenants.
- 2 months of basic rent caps the deposit on any Rotterdam lease that began from 1 July 2023.
- 6 months from the start of the lease is the window to have the starting rent reviewed, for a €25 fee.
- 3 to 6 months is a landlord’s notice on a permanent lease, and only with a legal reason.
- 5 working days is how quickly the City of Rotterdam’s report desk answers a tenant’s report.
This is general information about Dutch law, not legal advice for your situation. Rules change; figures are for 2026. No rights can be derived from this text.
How it works
Rotterdam tenancy lawyer: how FindLawyer works for tenants
FindLawyer does not give legal advice itself: it listens first, then connects you with an independent English-speaking Dutch tenancy lawyer when a lawyer is the right step.
Tell us about the matter, receive an honest practical assessment, and if you proceed, we prepare the case and introduce a suitable independent lawyer. See how FindLawyer works.
| What you need | What it costs you |
|---|---|
| The first consultation (15 minutes) | Free |
| Getting a deposit back | €49 coordination fee, no €188 lawyer fee upfront if eligible |
| A rent reduction or an eviction threat | Quoted after the free call, before any work starts |
| A Huurcommissie procedure (tenant) | €25, refunded if you win |
FindLawyer’s terms as published for Rotterdam; the Huurcommissie fee is set by the Huurcommissie.
- Who we are. FindLawyer is run by Leadvise Legal B.V., based in Leiden.
- From anywhere. Remote cases are accepted, so moving away does not end your claim.
- If money is tight. Subsidised legal aid is means-tested and open to internationals who live here; check it before you pay for anything on our legal aid page.
Deposit
Your deposit: what the law allows, and the €49 route to get it back
A Rotterdam landlord may hold at most 2 months of basic rent on a lease from 1 July 2023, and must repay it within 14 days of the lease ending.
- The rules. On an older lease the maximum is 3 months, and a deposit that is too high can be reported to the city (City of Rotterdam). With damage or unpaid rent to settle, the landlord has 30 days and must give a written specification (Civil Code, article 7:261b).
- The route. The free eligibility check takes about 2 minutes. The €49 is only due if FindLawyer can help after review, and is refunded if we cannot connect you to the lawyer; for the lowest legal-aid bracket the €188 share is usually not due before the case starts and can come from the money recovered. See the free deposit check and our renting in Rotterdam guide.
Rent
A rent that is too high: the review window and the city’s fines
In social and regulated mid-rent the points of the home set the legal maximum, and a new tenant has 6 months to have the starting rent reviewed.
- The Huurcommissie. Send the form within 6 months of the start of the lease (Huurcommissie); a tenant pays €25 upfront and gets it back if the ruling goes their way (Huurcommissie).
- The city. Since 1 January 2025 Rotterdam tenants can report a rent that is too high, and the city can fine the landlord (City of Rotterdam).
- Step by step: our Rotterdam rent reduction guide explains the points, the limits for 2026 and both routes to a lower rent.
Eviction
A landlord who wants you out: your protection in Rotterdam
A landlord may not simply end the lease of your home; it takes a good reason, and if you object, the court decides.
- The reasons. Rent arrears of 1 month or more, nuisance such as noise, or the landlord urgently needing the home, among others. You may stay in the home until the court has ruled, and on a permanent lease the notice is 3 to 6 months (Rijksoverheid).
- Who is protected. Tenant protection covers a house, an apartment and a room. A room let by a live-in landlord (hospita) has no protection for the first 9 months, with 3 months’ notice (Rijksoverheid).
- Pressure is reportable. A landlord or agent may not intimidate you, for example by threatening to end the lease or to cut off the electricity; report it to the city (City of Rotterdam). Read our eviction and tenant rights in Rotterdam guide and, if the rent has fallen behind, the rent arrears guide.
Where to turn
Rotterdam bodies that deal with tenant problems
Besides a lawyer, three Rotterdam routes matter: the city’s report desk, the free advice services it names, and the court.
- The report desk. Report online with DigiD, hear back within 5 working days, and the city tries to solve the complaint within 8 weeks; questions go to 14 010 (City of Rotterdam). The information point is at Markerstraat 7 in Carnisse (Weet wat je huurt).
- Free advice. The Huurteam’s deployment in six focus neighbourhoods has ended, and every tenant can get free support from the report desk (City of Rotterdam). For legal advice the city names the Juridisch Loket, the Sociaal Raadslieden, Stichting Je Goed Recht and Sociaal Advocaten (Weet wat je huurt).
- The court. Rechtbank Rotterdam is at Wilhelminaplein 100-125 on the Kop van Zuid (Rechtspraak.nl).
- Other problems we see: defects and repairs, mould and damp, rent increases, landlord entry and privacy and subletting.
Legal help
Talk to an English-speaking tenancy lawyer about your Rotterdam home
The sooner you call, the more options stay open, especially with a 6-month rent window or a notice already on the table.
Tell us what happened in the free call; if a lawyer can help, you hear the cost before anything starts.
Deposit, rent or eviction in Rotterdam? Talk to a tenancy lawyer
Need help with this? We match you with an English-speaking Dutch tenancy lawyer. Free 15-minute matching call first. Lawyer fees are paid to the firm and explained before you proceed.
Keep reading
Related guides
More of our guides for tenants in Rotterdam.
Free deposit check
Landlord kept your deposit? Check your case.
HousingRenting in Rotterdam
Rents, the housing permit and your deposit.
RentIs your Rotterdam rent too high?
The points check and the Huurcommissie.
EvictionEviction in Rotterdam
Only a court can make you leave.
HubTenancy guides
Every tenancy guide in one place.
Legal aidSubsidised legal aid
Whether the state pays part of your lawyer.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
Is FindLawyer a tenancy lawyer in Rotterdam?
No. FindLawyer, run by Leadvise Legal B.V., is a lawyer matching service. After a free 15-minute call it can connect you with an independent English-speaking Dutch tenancy lawyer, and the legal advice and representation come from that lawyer. Expats in Rotterdam have the same tenant rights on deposits, rent and eviction as Dutch tenants.
What does tenancy help in Rotterdam cost?
The first 15-minute consultation is free. For a deposit, eligible tenants use a fixed €49 coordination route with no €188 lawyer fee upfront, and the €49 is refunded if we cannot connect you to a lawyer. Rent reductions and eviction matters are quoted after the free call, and any lawyer fees are explained before you proceed.
Can you help if I have already left Rotterdam?
Often, yes, and especially with a deposit, because those claims are handled largely in writing and, if needed, at the Rotterdam court. FindLawyer accepts remote cases, so you do not need to be in the Netherlands to pursue one. Start with the free deposit check or book the free call.
Can my Rotterdam landlord make me leave?
Not simply because they want to: a landlord may only end the lease of your home for a good reason, such as rent arrears of a month or more, or nuisance. If you object, the court decides, and you may stay in the home until then. Threatening to end the lease or cut the electricity is intimidation you can report to the city.
My deposit has not come back. What can I do?
The landlord must repay it within 14 days of the lease ending, or within 30 days with a written specification if there is damage or unpaid rent. On a lease from 1 July 2023 it may be at most 2 months of basic rent. Report a deposit that is too high to the city, and use the free deposit check to see if a lawyer can recover yours.
Where else can tenants in Rotterdam get free help?
The City of Rotterdam’s report desk gives free support to all tenants and answers within 5 working days; you can also visit its information point at Markerstraat 7 in Carnisse. For legal advice the city names the Juridisch Loket, the Sociaal Raadslieden, Stichting Je Goed Recht and Sociaal Advocaten.
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Official sources, checked 15 September 2026
- City of Rotterdam: reporting landlord misconduct (in Dutch)
- Wetten.nl: Dutch Civil Code, Book 7, article 7:261b (in Dutch)
- Huurcommissie: the rent on a new or temporary contract (in Dutch)
- Huurcommissie: what does a procedure cost? (in Dutch)
- City of Rotterdam: letting a home, rules for landlords (in Dutch)
- Rijksoverheid: may my landlord end the lease of my home? (in Dutch)
- Rijksoverheid: do I have tenant protection? (in Dutch)
- City of Rotterdam, Weet wat je huurt: free help with rental problems (in Dutch)
- Rotterdam city executive: answers on the Huurteam Rotterdam, 16 September 2025 (PDF, in Dutch)
- Rechtspraak.nl: directions to Rechtbank Rotterdam (in Dutch)
Final notes and legal disclaimer
- This article provides general information and is not tailored to your personal circumstances.
- It does not cover all situations, exceptions, or recent legal changes.
- Reading this article does not create a lawyer-client relationship with findlawyer.nl or any associated entity.
- No guarantee is given that this information is complete, accurate, or up to date.
- No rights can be derived from this article.
- For decisions about tenancy help in Rotterdam, or your specific situation, always consult a qualified professional.
FindLawyer is a lawyer-matching and case-preparation service, not a law firm. Legal advice comes from the partner lawyer.