How it appears in listings
You will see g/w/e, gwe, "gas, water en licht" (licht means electricity here), "excl. g/w/e", "incl. g/w/e" or "voorschot g/w/e" (an advance for utilities). English-language sites write "utilities", "excl. utilities" or "bills included".
How to read the price:
- €1,250 excl. g/w/e: gas, water and electricity come on top. You budget for them yourself.
- €1,250 incl. g/w/e: they are in the price, usually as an advance.
- €1,250 all-in: rent, servicekosten and utilities in one amount. Ask for the split.
Internet and TV are not part of g/w/e, even when a listing bundles them.
What it means for you
- Excl. means a separate bill. You pay energy and water yourself, often with your own contract, so add them to your budget.
- Incl. is usually an advance, not a flat fee. When you pay utilities through the landlord, they must appear on the yearly statement of service costs (art. 7:259 BW) and be settled against actual use. Ask whether the amount is a voorschot.
- A too-high advance can be lowered. If the advance is much higher than the expected costs, the Huurcommissie can lower it (art. 7:261 BW).
Own meter or shared meter
In law, gas, water and electricity measured by a meter in your own home are "nutsvoorzieningen met een individuele meter" (art. 7:237 BW). Without an individual meter, for example one meter for a whole house of rooms, they count as service costs. In both cases, costs paid through the landlord belong on the yearly statement.
Comparing two listings
On RentHunter, listings between July and October 2026 that state a utilities advance show a median of €140 a month: €100 for rooms and €150 for apartments.
| Listing A | Listing B | |
|---|---|---|
| Advertised price | €1,300 incl. g/w/e | €1,150 excl. g/w/e |
| Utilities | In the price, as an advance | About €150 on your own contract |
| What you pay each month | €1,300 | About €1,300 |
The two cost about the same. Your deposit and the legal rent checks still use the kale huur, so ask listing A how much of the €1,300 is rent.
Frequently asked questions
What does "excl. g/w/e" mean?
Gas, water and electricity are not in the rent. Budget them separately or take your own energy contract.
My landlord charges a fixed €200 for g/w/e. Is that allowed?
Utilities paid through the landlord must be settled once a year against actual use. If the advance is much higher than the real costs, the Huurcommissie can lower it. More in our guide to gas, water and electricity costs.
Does g/w/e count for huurtoeslag?
No. Since 1 January 2026, huurtoeslag is calculated on the kale huur only.
