The Municipality of Groningen has announced that a counter where residents of the city can bring forward complaints against their landlords is nearly ready for the public. The newly dubbed Rental Support Centre, according to the municipality, only requires a director to oversee the desk before it can begin operations.
“Adopting the director for 32 hours a week is the last hurdle before opening the office hours,” said Matthijs Oldenburger, a representative from the foundation, reports Oog. He goes on to state that hiring the director is the “next big step” in helping hundreds of tenants per year.
While the Rental Support Centre already launched their website last year, the opening of a physical location promises office hours where in-person legal consultations can take place, reports Sikkom. Oldenburger cites that, because tenants previously were unsure of where to take their complaints, local politicians were unable to take much of a step toward providing solutions.
Which is why the opening of a physical location is especially important. In-person filings backed by paperwork could potentially help build a stronger legal basis for tenants going forward.
The support centre was initially announced last year by the municipality, however, the new location, situated on the Damsterdiep, has only recently finished construction. According to Oog, the primary goal of the Rental Support Centre is to help balance what is currently a one-sided relationship between tenants and landlords.
While the support centre is primarily aimed at tenants, the foundation claims that landlords will also be able to benefit from their services through consultation on permits and rent tribunals.
While the foundation has not yet provided a clear date as to when the physical office will open, it is expected that operations will proceed shortly after a fitting director is found.
You can learn more about the Rental Support Centre through their official website.
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