Can the landlord put a lock on the heating so that it turns off every 15 minutes?

Questioner

My housemate and I have recently rented an apartment in Utrecht. The landlord has put a lock on the heating, which means that the heating switches off every 15 minutes. You then have to turn it back on manually outside the front door. This means that it is freezing cold in our apartment, as it is set to a minimum of 10 degrees. Is this allowed? We have been given two electric heaters by him, one of which he has also put a lock on so that it does not get very warm. He has glued it to a certain temperature. Our laundry does not dry because of the cold. My housemate's bed is also completely clammy in the morning. We also only have single glazing in certain areas and the roof is not insulated in a certain area. We will soon be getting a new roof, but this also causes a lot of cold. The landlord believes that it is cheaper to turn on the heating a few times instead of having it set to a minimum temperature of, for example, 18/19 degrees. He says that the heat will stay if you have set it to 22 degrees twice, but of course this is not the case with a poorly insulated roof and single glazing. He has also installed solar panels on our roof terrace, so we can no longer use part of it, but we are not allowed to use the solar panels. However, we also find this striking. The previous tenants said that the heating also switched off at theirs, but that this was not every 15 minutes but more every hour.

Lawyer

It is good to know that landlords are obliged to keep the rented accommodation in good condition. This also means that the home must be able to be heated sufficiently. Dutch Tenancy Law is quite protective for tenants. If you do not agree with the adjustments made by the landlord, it is advisable to discuss this with your landlord. From your story I understand that your landlord has set the heating to turn off every 15 minutes and that you feel that this is insufficient to keep your home comfortable. If your home remains really cold and becomes uninhabitable, you can take legal action. Regarding the solar panels; the fact that you are not allowed to use the solar panels should have been agreed in the lease. If this is not the case, the landlord could possibly increase the rent by charging service costs, for example. However, this does require a careful approach, as the rental price and service costs are set out in the rental agreement. In addition, you make a point about the fact that part of the roof is not insulated. This can lead to extra heating costs. From your story I understand that your landlord does intend to insulate the roof. It is wise to make clear agreements about this with the landlord, for example about the period in which he will do this. I advise you to discuss the situation with a lawyer or attorney, where you can show them the lease and explain exactly what the problem is. If you cannot reach a solution with your landlord, you can possibly involve the Rent Assessment Committee to make a ruling on the matter. I cannot give you specific legal advice, but with this information you can consider your options together with a lawyer or attorney. ---------------- Stichting Rechtswinkel.nl is a national organization with students and volunteers. The above advice is based on limited information and may be incomplete or even incorrect for your situation. Always consult a lawyer or attorney for your further steps. Read disclaimer: https://rechtswinkel.nl/disclaimer