What to do about a threatening housing situation in a rental property?

Questioner

I rent a room in a 4-room apartment from a real slum landlord. I have been living there for almost 4 years. The landlord/owner has rented out the rest of the apartment to various tenants over the years. A year and a half ago he rented it to a couple. There were various types of nuisance from the first day they arrived. But what I find worst is that the man has insulted and threatened me more often, and made sexually suggestive remarks to me when his wife was not home. It has become so stressful that I often have to wear earplugs when I am home. I have sent complaints to the landlord several times, without response. Now the bullying has gotten worse! At 00.15 Saturday night I was talking to his wife in the living room about groceries or something like that. Then the man threw a bottle hard on me and hit my ribs badly. I took pictures of the bruises and immediately reported it to the police. Then soon a visit to my GP, where I was because I have bruised ribs. Since then I have been extra afraid to be home when this man is there. So far I have not received any response from the landlord about this. I can't move easily, but I want to do it as soon as possible. I feel completely vulnerable at home. The man continues with this crazy behavior towards me. The landlord takes no responsibility.

Lawyer

You have already taken some important actions, such as reporting it to the police. It is important to check whether there are possibilities to impose a restraining order on the man who is threatening you. For this you can go to the local police. In addition, in addition to contacting the landlord, you can also contact the Rent Assessment Committee or the Reporting Point for Undesirable Rental Behaviour. Here you can file a complaint about your landlord. You can also request a rent reduction from the Rent Assessment Committee, as a result of the poor quality of life. Initiating proceedings against your landlord can be a solution, but it is also a time-consuming and therefore stressful process. This can potentially worsen your situation, especially if you are already looking for another place to live. It can help to discuss the pros and cons of such proceedings with a lawyer or legal expert. If you do not want to pursue legal action to find a solution with your landlord, it may be possible to get support from, for example, a confidant or a social worker. They can help you find solutions and possibly put pressure on your landlord. In extreme cases, it is possible in the Netherlands to call in the help of the GGD or even the mayor, if there is structural nuisance in the home. For this, it is necessary to have a good overview of the nuisance-causing events and measures that you have taken. In the long run, it may be best for you to look for other housing where you can feel safe. When taking further steps, it is wise to contact a lawyer or attorney. They can assist and advise you on the possibilities and guide you through the process. ---------------- 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 I would like to invite you to rate the above answer so that we can learn from your response.