How it appears in listings
You will see servicekosten, "servicekosten €75 p/m", "excl. servicekosten" or "voorschot servicekosten" (an advance on service charges). English-language sites write "service costs", "service charges" or simply "other costs".
Typical service costs are:
- cleaning and lighting of the stairwell, hallways and other shared areas
- a caretaker (huismeester)
- shared heating or hot water
- the furniture, floor covering and curtains in a gestoffeerd or furnished home
Gas, water and electricity measured on a meter in your own home are a separate category in law, see g/w/e. Since 1 January 2026, service costs also no longer count for huurtoeslag, which looks only at the kale huur.
What it means for you
- You pay actual costs, nothing more. Since the Wet goed verhuurderschap (1 July 2023), the landlord may only charge costs actually incurred, with a yearly cost specification. Servicekosten are not extra rent.
- You get a yearly statement before 1 July. The landlord must send an itemised overview of the previous calendar year within six months after it ends (art. 7:259 BW).
- The Huurcommissie can decide, also in the free sector. Tenant or landlord can ask the Huurcommissie to rule on service costs (art. 7:260 BW), at the latest 24 months after the statement deadline. This applies to liberalised contracts too.
If the yearly statement does not arrive
For the costs of 2025, the statement is due before 1 July 2026. If nothing arrives, ask the landlord for it in writing. If you still have nothing after 3 weeks, you can start a case at the Huurcommissie, which then decides what you owe.
What changes on 1 January 2027
The Wet modernisering servicekosten introduces a closed list of 8 categories. For contracts signed on or after 1 January 2027, a landlord may only charge service costs that fall within that list. Existing contracts move to the new rules only if landlord and tenant both agree. The Huurcommissie will also be able to review every advance payment, and when a landlord sends no statement, it can set the amount using statutory standard amounts.
How much it is on RentHunter
Among listings on RentHunter between July and October 2026 that show a separate monthly cost, the median is €60 for apartments and €105 for rooms. That listing field is a catch-all: it also holds cleaning fees and sometimes an advance for gas, water and electricity, which pushes the room figure up.
Frequently asked questions
I never got a yearly statement. What can I do?
Ask the landlord in writing after 1 July. If you still have nothing after 3 weeks, go to the Huurcommissie, which then decides what you owe.
Does this also apply in the free sector?
Yes. The yearly statement and the Huurcommissie route for service costs apply to liberalised contracts too.
Can the landlord charge for cleaning?
Cleaning of shared areas can be a service cost, charged at actual cost and shown on the yearly statement. Read more in can the landlord charge for cleaning.
