International students fall victim to greedy landlord

Students had reported excessively high rents. The municipality of Amsterdam then conducted an investigation, in collaboration with the Woon foundation, which revealed that the landlord charged hundreds of euros more per month than permitted.

“For years, students and young people have been the victims of landlords like this one, who take advantage of the extreme housing shortage in our city,” says Alderwoman Zita Pels.

Possible fine for the company
The national newspaper Het Parool reports that the company in question is called HiCondo. Most tenants are international students who live in studios with their own kitchen and bathroom. The case involves about 350 units.

The landlord must lower the rents within four weeks. If HiCondo fails to do so, the company risks a fine of up to hundreds of thousands of euros. If the situation doesn't improve, the municipality can take further action and take over management of the property.

Students Exploited
Thanks to the 2024 Affordable Rent Act, municipalities are better equipped to intervene when landlords charge excessive rent. However, they have made little use of this provision so far, according to a spokesperson for the Tenant Association (Woonbond).

“Amsterdam is using its enforcement powers exactly as intended: students are being exploited by excessive rents, so the municipality is standing with the tenants to change this. Other municipalities could follow this example,” the Tenant Association states.

Exorbitant Rents
Students are often the victims of exorbitant rents. International students are the most vulnerable group, as they often have little knowledge of the Dutch housing market, need to find a room quickly, and are afraid to be too critical.

The National Student Union (LSVb) operates a housing hotline for international students who have questions about renting in the Netherlands. Last year, the union received 263 inquiries and reports, often concerning scams and exploitation. LSVb Chair Evy Kras views Amsterdam’s enforcement of the law as a positive step: “I’m curious to see how this plays out and what the consequences will be for the students living there.”

HiCondo was unable to provide a substantive response this afternoon.

Rent increases took effect nationwide on July 1. DUB investigated the reasons for this and whether they are justified.