What are service and utility costs?

Service costs are costs on top of the basic rent of a house. For example, costs for cleaning, gardening, upholstery and furnishing and the caretaker. Costs for utilities are the costs for gas, water and electricity for which the tenant has his own meter. 

What are eligible service costs?

These are service costs that you may include in the calculation of the rent allowance. These costs are often subject to a maximum amount. It concerns one or more of the following service costs: cleaning costs for common areas, energy costs for common areas, caretaker costs and costs for service and recreation areas. You can find more information on the Tax and Customs Administration's (Belastingdienst') website

Service costs

Utility costs

What are no service charges or utilities
The following costs are not included in service charges or utilities.

• Care service costs; such as costs for meal delivery, nursing and alarm service;

• Taxes and charges, such as sewerage charges. The landlord may pass on certain costs and charges to you, but not through the service charges. Owners are charged for owner charges (such as the property tax) and users (tenants) for user charges (such as the waste disposal charge). The assessment for the waste disposal charges will be made in the name of the user of the building. In the case of multiple use of a building (such as private room rental), this assessment will be paid to the owner/landlord.