Calculating points for rooms: how to determine maximum room rent

You rent a room of 12m² in a student house. You share the kitchen with four others, the shower is moldy and you pay... € 650 per month. "That is simply the market price," says your landlord. NONSENSE. For rooms (non-independent living space), the points system ALWAYS applies. And chances are that your room is legally only worth € 350.

Tenants of rooms leave millions of euros on the table because they don't know how to count. In this article we explain how the WWS points system for non-independent living space works and how you can get your rent down.

1. Independent vs. Non-independent: The Difference

It simple:

• Independent: You have your own front door, own kitchen AND own toilet/bathroom. No one else has to pass through your room to get to their room.
• Non-independent (Room): You share the kitchen, the toilet or the shower with others.

For non-independent living space there is no free sector. Every room, no matter how luxurious, falls under the points system (WWS) and has a maximum rent price.

2. How do you count points for a room?

The system works differently than for apartments. What do you look for?

3. The 25% Reduction Rule (Nuisance Situations)

Is the living situation far from ideal? Then points are deducted.

4. Beware of the All-in price!

Do you pay one amount (e.g. € 700) without stating what basic rent is and what service costs are? That is an "all-in price" and that is forbidden.

The trap: Because there is no basic rent price, you cannot apply for rent allowance and check any annual rent increase.
The solution: You can ask the Rent Tribunal to split the all-in price. The law then says: 55% becomes basic rent, 25% becomes advance service costs. This ALMOST ALWAYS turns out favorably for the tenant!

5. How do you get rent reduction?

Have you counted and do you pay too much?

• New contract (< 6 months): Go directly to the Rent Tribunal for an "Initial Rent Price Assessment". They lower the rent retroactively from day 1.
• Old contract (> 6 months): First send a proposal for rent reduction to your landlord. Does he refuse? Then you go to the Rent Tribunal. The reduction starts from the date of your proposal.