Using a company to help find somewhere to live
Mar 1st 2016, 2:56 pm
#1
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Thread Starter
Joined: Mar 2016
Posts: 2
Using a company to help find somewhere to live
Hello,
I will be moving to The Hague from the UK, starting a new job there at the start of May.
I've been looking online at rental properties and came across a 'Home Search' company (via the Perfect Housing website) that offer to help you find somewhere, help with negotiations with landlords, help you get set up with utilities etc. obviously all for a fee (approx 1 month rent + tax). I'm getting a pretty generous relocation allowance, so I am tempted to use them (especially as I speak no Dutch), as I think it might take some of the stress out of moving, but I don't know if it's ultimately a total rip off.
Has anyone used a company like this before? Is it worth it?
Many thanks!
Morag.
I will be moving to The Hague from the UK, starting a new job there at the start of May.
I've been looking online at rental properties and came across a 'Home Search' company (via the Perfect Housing website) that offer to help you find somewhere, help with negotiations with landlords, help you get set up with utilities etc. obviously all for a fee (approx 1 month rent + tax). I'm getting a pretty generous relocation allowance, so I am tempted to use them (especially as I speak no Dutch), as I think it might take some of the stress out of moving, but I don't know if it's ultimately a total rip off.
Has anyone used a company like this before? Is it worth it?
Many thanks!
Morag.
Mar 1st 2016, 5:56 pm
#2
BE Enthusiast
Joined: Jan 2012
Location: Noord Holland
Posts: 568
Re: Using a company to help find somewhere to live
Those companies charge a lot, and there are many of them, so if you must use one, then shop around.
It's hard to find affordable property in the main cities, but with a large budget there are plenty of properties available. (There are links in the Wiki at the top of the forum to the main property databases). Funda.nl tells you how long a property has been on the market, so there's your bargaining tools right there
In the UK you would negotiate yourself, or make the deal via their (the landlord's) agent, and there is no reason you can't do that here. If your landlord won't speak English to you, then avoid that property because he won't answer your calls if you need a repair and will become 'unavailable' when it's time to give you deposit back. They like renting to expats because you are naive of the rental laws - I'd personally save the fee and invest in a good legal assistance insurance instead.
The Hague has an expat centre where you can get all the help and advice you need relating to registering, free. The Hague International Centre - Home. I'd call them first and see what they can do for you. As banks, utilities etc can be set up in English, you don't need a Dutch speaker to do this for you.
It's hard to find affordable property in the main cities, but with a large budget there are plenty of properties available. (There are links in the Wiki at the top of the forum to the main property databases). Funda.nl tells you how long a property has been on the market, so there's your bargaining tools right there
In the UK you would negotiate yourself, or make the deal via their (the landlord's) agent, and there is no reason you can't do that here. If your landlord won't speak English to you, then avoid that property because he won't answer your calls if you need a repair and will become 'unavailable' when it's time to give you deposit back. They like renting to expats because you are naive of the rental laws - I'd personally save the fee and invest in a good legal assistance insurance instead.The Hague has an expat centre where you can get all the help and advice you need relating to registering, free. The Hague International Centre - Home. I'd call them first and see what they can do for you. As banks, utilities etc can be set up in English, you don't need a Dutch speaker to do this for you.
Mar 2nd 2016, 4:10 pm
#3
Just Joined
Thread Starter
Joined: Mar 2016
Posts: 2
Re: Using a company to help find somewhere to live
Those companies charge a lot, and there are many of them, so if you must use one, then shop around.
It's hard to find affordable property in the main cities, but with a large budget there are plenty of properties available. (There are links in the Wiki at the top of the forum to the main property databases). Funda.nl tells you how long a property has been on the market, so there's your bargaining tools right there In the UK you would negotiate yourself, or make the deal via their (the landlord's) agent, and there is no reason you can't do that here. If your landlord won't speak English to you, then avoid that property because he won't answer your calls if you need a repair and will become 'unavailable' when it's time to give you deposit back. They like renting to expats because you are naive of the rental laws - I'd personally save the fee and invest in a good legal assistance insurance instead.
The Hague has an expat centre where you can get all the help and advice you need relating to registering, free. The Hague International Centre - Home. I'd call them first and see what they can do for you. As banks, utilities etc can be set up in English, you don't need a Dutch speaker to do this for you.
It's hard to find affordable property in the main cities, but with a large budget there are plenty of properties available. (There are links in the Wiki at the top of the forum to the main property databases). Funda.nl tells you how long a property has been on the market, so there's your bargaining tools right there
In the UK you would negotiate yourself, or make the deal via their (the landlord's) agent, and there is no reason you can't do that here. If your landlord won't speak English to you, then avoid that property because he won't answer your calls if you need a repair and will become 'unavailable' when it's time to give you deposit back. They like renting to expats because you are naive of the rental laws - I'd personally save the fee and invest in a good legal assistance insurance instead.The Hague has an expat centre where you can get all the help and advice you need relating to registering, free. The Hague International Centre - Home. I'd call them first and see what they can do for you. As banks, utilities etc can be set up in English, you don't need a Dutch speaker to do this for you.
