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Why a quality mark?
Maastricht is a growing international student city. All of these students need housing, but how can they tell if these are safe and reliable? The ‘Prettig Wonen’ quality mark tells tenants at a glance that an accommodation satisfies certain criteria with respect to fire safety and protection against burglary and that the landlord is trustworthy and easy to reach. The quality mark also distinguishes the accommodation on the rental market.
The ‘Prettig Wonen’ quality mark is unique in the Netherlands, and was created in cooperation with the private landlord associated (united in the VVWM), educational institutions (Maastricht University, Zuyd University of Applied Sciences and the Jan van Eyck Academy), the municipality of Maastricht, the fire department of South- Limburg, housing corporations (Maasvallei, Servatius, Woonpunt), the student council, MyMaastricht and neighbourhood committees.
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How does an accommodation obtain a quality mark?
Before an accommodation obtains a quality mark, the accommodation undergoes rigorous screening by a specialised inspector. Subsequent annual checks are carried out by the landlord using the app, and an inspector re-checks the accommodation every five years. More information relating to the requirements can be found under the ‘pillars’ tab.
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Advantages of the quality mark?
According to the 2007 Dutch Housing Act, the owner is responsible for the safety of the property. The quality mark assures owners and tenants that everything is in order and also distinguishes the accommodation on the rental market. As a consequence of the higher level of safety, owners receive discounts on the insurance premium, for example; as a result, the quality mark pays for itself.
Quality mark application
The yearly inspection can easily be carried out with the use of the app. Additionally there is a free control module, in which the landlord can periodically check the premises (duty of care), and transfer module, in which the tenant and landlord record the state of the accommodation at the start and end of the lease. This prevents potential discussions about deposits after the fact.