Did You Know?
Legal rules, laws, and policies regarding housing and tenant rights apply without distinction, regardless of your immigration status.
It doesn’t matter if you have an irregular immigration status, an asylum application, or if you have overstayed your tourist visa: the law governing lease contracts applies regardless of your immigration status. This means that you have legal rights that landlords cannot easily ignore. It also means that you have legal obligations to fulfill.
In most cases, the landlord cannot evict you without the Tenant Committee’s permission.
a. In most cases, before the landlord can evict you, they must submit a request to the Tenant Committee for approval. b. Both you and the landlord must attend a hearing before the Committee decides on the legality of the eviction. c. On average, a tenant must have at least three months of overdue rent before the Committee approves an eviction. d. Paying small amounts of rent each month is better than paying nothing: paying small amounts demonstrates that you are willing to find a solution and reduces the risk that the Committee will approve the eviction.
You can appeal a negative decision from the Committee in court.
You must file the appeal within six weeks of the Committee’s decision.
You don’t need to have a formal written lease to exercise your legal rights.
a. In principle, it doesn’t matter if you have a verbal or written lease. Both verbal and written agreements are legally valid. b. It can sometimes be challenging to prove a verbal agreement, especially if the landlord denies its existence. However, if you can show that you paid rent or have WhatsApp messages that demonstrate your relationship with the landlord, this may be enough to prove a verbal lease agreement.
Other Rights & Obligations
The landlord is obligated to maintain the rented property in a condition suitable for its intended purpose. The property must be habitable. If, due to maintenance issues, the property becomes uninhabitable or disrupts your peaceful living, you are allowed to unilaterally reduce the rent. Before you can reduce the rent, you must follow the legal requirements: