How do I make a reservation?

What is your reservation procedure? How do you determine which reservations you accept?

What is the minimum/maximum stay?

What sort of payments do you accept?

Why do you have a maximum initial term of 3 months?

Do I have to rent on the basis of a calendar month, or can I rent it per day?

What if I start with a stay less than 3 months, but change my mind and stay longer.   Do I still have to pay the higher rent for the first 3 months?

What does it mean to have a fixed term rental agreement?

What other costs are there besides the rent?

How and when do I get my deposit back?

What is the neighborhood like?

I'm moving to Amsterdam to live for a while, is it okay to move into your apartment?

Is the apartment suitable for people with limited mobility?

Kitchen - Eating table with 4 chairs, microwave, self cleaning oven, stove top, dishwasher, dishes and silverware for 4 people, pots and pans, cutlery, measuring cups and spoons, and many other things commonly found in a kitchen.

Bedroom - 2-person bed, clothes cabinet, bedding, towels, pictures on wall.

Bathroom - shower, toilet, sink

Living Room - TV, VCR, stereo, 2+3 couch set, buffet, 2 floor lamps, fan, TV furniture with bookshelf, pictures on wall.

Utility Room - washing machine, dryer, cleaning supplies

In addition there is a limited supply of some consumable items like toilet paper, soap, etc.

If it is available, then to make a reservation you need to sign and return 2 copies of the rental agreement together with a photocopy of your passport, and pay the deposit in advance. When we receive the signed copies of the rental agreement and deposit, we will sign one copy of the rental agreement and return it to you, thus confirming your reservation. The first month's rent will be due on arrival. Please see below on how to pay the deposit.

If you are making a reservation very close to the time of arrival, and there is not time for the paperwork and the payment of the deposit, we will make other arrangements. Please ask.

Normally, from the time you tell us that you intend to make a reservation, we will hold the apartment for 2 weeks to allow you to complete the payment and paperwork. If the reservation is not completed within this time, we may offer the apartment to someone else. In this case we will refund your deposit.

If you cancel your reservation 30 or more days in advance, you are entitled to a 50% refund. If you cancel 60 or more days in advance, you are entitled to a 100% refund.

If you become a long term tenant, on good terms, you will probably be able to stay as long as you want. In this case, we stop accepting reservations from other people, and wait until you decide not to renew your rental agreement. The one exception to this is that any pre-existing reservations will always have to be honored.

If you want to make a reservation, and there is a long term tenant in the apartment, it may not be clear if your reservation can be accepted. In this case we may ask you to offer your name for a waiting list. If this happens, no deposit is necessary and when your name comes up on the list, you are not obliged to take the apartment if you don't want it. Generally at the time we put you on a waiting list, we explain the situation to you and give you an indication of the likelihood of you being able to make the reservation as requested.

If you are on a waiting list, and your name comes up, you have 14 days to secure your reservation by completing the paperwork and paying the deposit. After 14 days, the apartment may be offered to someone else for that time period. If you pay the deposit after the 14 days, and it is no longer possible to accept your reservation, we will immediately refund the deposit. We don't refund any fees you may have paid to your bank, or any losses due to currency fluctuations.

Sometimes we have several simultaneous inquiries for the same time period. Normally in this case, if you are the first person to tell us you are sure you want the apartment, we will hold it for 14 days to give you a chance to do the paperwork and pay the deposit. If you are interested in the apartment and someone else is in the middle of their 14 day period, we offer you the chance for your name to be put on a mini waiting list with the same conditions as above.

It's also possible the reservation you want to make creates a scheduling conflict or a potential conflict with other people. For example, if you want to take the apartment from 25 June to 3 August. This would be right in the middle of the busy summer season, and since many people rent the apartment on the basis of a calendar month, this may mean we can't rent it to anyone else for the remainder of June or August. In this case, we may ask you to reconsider your dates or pay extra, or we may be unable to accept your reservation.

Once you have completed the paperwork, and paid the deposit, your reservation is confirmed and won't be cancelled by us.

The maximum initial term is 3 months.

After the initial term there is, in principle, no maximum stay. Normally, a month or two before your current term expires, we would write you a letter inviting you to extend the rental agreement for another term, you would simply sign and return the letter to us if you agree. A term would normally be 3-6 months, but depending on your needs we might agree on another length of time.

Payment of rent can be cash, bank transfer or for a fee of about 3 euros it's possible to make a payment at any post office.

If you have special circumstances, for example you are going to be in Amsterdam for 4 months and want to make a reservation that covers the whole period, let us know. We can be flexible.

Normally, if you stay for at least one month, it's possible to move in and out whenever you want, and pay a pro-rated daily rate based on the monthly rate and the number of days you stay.

During busy periods, we may require you to rent it on the basis of a calendar month. If you stay for at least a few months, we may make an exception to this.

If you pay the short term rent, and then end up staying longer, you will get a refund or a rent credit for the difference.

Many normal rentals require a permit from the city, often require proof of income and in many cases there are very long waiting lists for these kinds of apartments, especially the cheaper ones in better neighborhoods.

Fixed term rentals are generally furnished, more expensive, easier to find, and in better neighborhoods. Fixed term rentals are normally for short term use, but some people may live in them for a long time.

This apartment falls under the category of fixed term, and for better or worse, there can be no exceptions to this in the rental agreement. We must choose a fixed start and end date in advance, but extensions are normally not a problem.

There is a limit on the amount of electricity and gas you can use for free. Beyond 100 euros per month, it is at your own expense. Normal combined usage for the apartment is about 50 euros a month in the summer, and 100 euros in the winter. In addition, the costs are settled on an annual basis, so if you stay for a longer time it's possible to carry the unused portion of your utilities forward to the next month. The intention of this limit is to prevent abuse, and not to generate extra charges for the tenant.

Depending on how you make payments or how you receive a refund of your deposit, your bank may require you to pay a fee.

The city of Amsterdam has a property tax for occupants of property. Depending on how long you stay in the apartment, and if you register your presence with the city, you may have to pay this tax. This is a few hundred euros per year.

You are obliged to return the apartment clean and free of damages that are beyond normal wear and tear. If this is not the case, then all or some of your deposit may not be returned.

If when you leave the situation is clear, in that you are obviously entitled to your entire deposit back or it is easy to calculate the amount to be withheld, you may be entitled to a cash refund when you vacate the apartment, if you like. Refunds can also be made by bank transfer.

If the situation when you leave is unclear, it may take up to a few months to sort out. In this case a refund will be made by bank transfer at a later date, or by other arrangement.

If, for any reason, a portion of your deposit is not refunded you will receive a clear written explanation of the amount withheld.

In addition, if your deposit is payment for a reservation that is canceled, you may be entitled to a full or partial refund.

Near the apartment there is an abundance of public transportation, taking you almost anywhere you could want to go. There is also paid parking on the street or in garages nearby.

The city's main square, the Leidseplein, is a 5 minute walk offering some of the city's best restaurants and nightlife.

Two nearby streets, the Rozengracht and the Kinkerstraat, offer many shopping possibilities including several supermarkets and an outdoor food market.

Of course, you are welcome to stay in the apartment for an extended period. Please read the explanation above about fixed term versus normal rentals, and in particular please understand that there will always be some uncertainty if your rental agreement will be renewed. If you are going to stay for a while it may be cheaper if you find an unfurnished apartment to buy or rent and buy your own furniture.