Avoid Losing Your Deposit: A Step-by-Step Guide to a Smooth Check-Out

Kimo Paula

Founder

Avoid Losing Your Deposit: A Step-by-Step Guide to a Smooth Check-Out

If you’re preparing to leave your rental home in the Netherlands, you’ve likely got a lot on your mind. But before you lock the door one last time, there’s one important thing you don’t want to overlook: getting your deposit back.

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Unfortunately, this isn’t always as straightforward as it should be. In fact, last year alone, 135 formal deposit disputes were filed with the Rental Commission—and that's likely just a fraction of the actual cases. With deposits typically ranging between €4,000 and €6,000, the financial risk is too significant to ignore.

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To help make sure you're not one of those unlucky cases, we've put together a complete check-out service—designed to protect your deposit and give you peace of mind.

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Here’s what you need to know.

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1. Start with a contract and inventory review

Long before the movers arrive, it’s essential to understand the terms of your rental agreement and check-in report. This is the foundation for a successful check-out.

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We help you:

Review the fine print of your rental contract
Clarify what condition the property needs to be in
Identify items that must remain
Understand cleaning expectations

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You'll receive a personalised checklist so you know exactly what to do—and what to avoid—before you hand over the keys.

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2. Book a pre check-out

Visit about a month before your move, we’ll meet you at the property to walk through everything in person.

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This is your chance to:

Spot any issues before the landlord does
Get advice on repairs and staging
Ask questions about your checklist
Plan ahead for anything that could impact your deposit
Think of it as your rehearsal before the final performance.

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3. Don’t forget the practical stuff

Moving involves more than just cleaning and packing. There are plenty of small details that can become big headaches if forgotten.

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We’ll guide you through:

Cancelling utilities (gas, electricity, water)
Redirecting your mail
Updating your address where needed
This is the kind of support that saves you time—and stress—after you’ve left.

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4. Have someone by your side during check-out

On the day of your check-out appointment, we’ll be there with you.

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Why? Because having an expert present can:

Ensure a fair assessment of the property
Help you respond to any surprises on the spot
Reduce the chance of unexpected deductions
It’s easier to prevent a problem than to fix it later.

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5. Know what happens after check-out

Once the inspection is done, we don’t disappear.

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We’ll walk you through:

What happens next
How long deposit returns usually take
What to do if your landlord wants to make deductions
If needed, we can even connect you with a trusted legal advisor.

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What does it cost?

€500 for properties up to 100m²
€650 for properties larger than 100m²

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Why it’s worth it

With so much at stake, it’s simply not worth taking chances. A professional check-out process can mean the difference between recovering your full deposit—or losing thousands of euros.

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