Almost one in three rental homes in the Netherlands struggles with mold. It is particularly a problem in the major cities. Of the 5,200 cases concerning maintenance defects that the Rent Tribunal handled last year, mold played a role in approximately 1,525 cases.
“One of the most important trends we saw at the Rent Tribunal in 2024 is a significant increase in the number of cases involving mold, leaks, and drafts,” says chairman Pieter Heerma. Molds can lead to serious health problems, such as breathing difficulties.
The number of new disputes over serious maintenance defects increased by 30 percent last year compared to 2023. More than 5,800 tenants started a so-called defect case to obtain an independent and impartial ruling, according to the annual report of the Rent Tribunal.
The complaints are not limited to mold. Tenants also often suffer from mice, rats, drafty windows, and moisture in the home.