Court of Audit: Rent remains too high in Rotterdam, despite municipal efforts

The Rotterdam Audit Office reports that many private landlords still charge excessive rents despite municipal efforts to address this issue. The Affordable Rent Act, effective July 2024, aims to protect tenants through a points system that limits rental prices. However, few tenants have reported overcharging, with only 212 complaints leading to just 34 rent reductions. The Audit Office criticizes the costly and labor-intensive approach, noting that many tenants are unaware of reporting channels and fear repercussions from landlords. The municipality is urged to adopt stricter enforcement measures against habitual offenders and to support tenants who report issues. The city plans to enhance enforcement and address discrimination and intimidation faced by tenants.