That differs per situation. If you found accommodation at SUWB, DUWO or Kolpa through Universiteit Leiden SCIS Housing, the advertisement always clearly stated which costs are included in the service charges and which costs are not. Do you no longer know this? Then ask the landlord what is and what is not included in the rent. Always read your tenancy agreement carefully. It should state which costs you have to pay to the landlord each month and any additional costs. Sometimes you pay an all-in rent. This means that the rental price may also include the use of gas, water, electricity, municipal taxes and internet. Sometimes there is only talk of a basic rent with a portion for service charges. We explain these terms below:
The basic rent: The basic rent is the rent you pay for the house or room alone. It does not include costs for the use of, for example, gas, water and electricity and it does not include any other costs for services provided.
Service costs: Service charges are monthly costs that are added to the basic rent of the accommodation. These include costs for cleaning the building and the work of the caretaker. If the landlord also settles the consumption of gas, water and electricity with you, these are included in the service costs. You pay a monthly advance that is settled with you annually. On the annual settlement statement, you can see whether you have paid too much or too little. If you have paid too much, you will receive a refund. If you have paid too little, you will have to pay the remainder.
Gas, water and electricity costs: Gas, water and electricity can be settled in the service costs by the landlord. This is easy, because then you do not have to enter into a supply contract with an energy supplier. You pay a monthly advance and the landlord is obliged to settle the actual consumption with you annually. It also happens that you have to enter into a supply contract with an energy supplier yourself. You then pay a monthly advance to the supplier for the consumption. This is in addition to the rent that you pay to the landlord. The energy supplier is also obliged to settle the actual consumption with you annually. Read here how you can arrange this yourself and what you need to pay attention to when concluding an energy contract.
Internet and TV costs: Sometimes the landlord provides this as a service and these costs are included in the service costs. Sometimes you have to arrange this yourself and you are free to choose your own supplier. The costs for this come on top of the rent. Read here how you can arrange this yourself.