BOND PRECAIRE WOONVORMEN

The rent increase of 2022 has been refused by a large group of participants for several months. Kudos for your efforts thus far! By means of this newsletter we will inform you about the latest developments.

THREATS

Many refusers have received all kinds of threatening letters, reminders and payment reminders after refusing the rent increase. In this newsletter we would like to emphasize once again that there are a lot of tricks that landlords use to try to push through the rent increase, an intimidating collection policy is part of that. Our message is clear: don't be intimidated! You have the right to refuse the rent increase by not paying it and you are therefore not in rent arrears until the Rent Assessment Committee makes a decision. The landlord must send a registered letter for this. Apps, text messages, non-registered threatening letters and verbal reminders are not legally valid!

We have been several times through our social media channels landlords called to account and addressed about their intimidating collection policy, based on your anonymized threatening letters. Threat letters and reminders can still be shared with us via info@wijweigerendehuurspreis.nl, these are then anonymized and possibly used to confront landlords with their behavior. Give explicit permission for this in your email.

WEBINARS

We would also like to draw your attention to the upcoming webinars of WWDH, the next one is scheduled on September 26. October is a crucial month for our promotion, which is why we organize a webinar every week in October! Sign In and ask your questions! Put (one of) the following dates in the agenda:

Monday 18 July, 20:00
Monday 15 August, 20:00
Monday September 26, 20:00
Monday 17 October, 20:00

ACTION MEETING

Tuesday, August 30 at 20:00 – 21:30 an organizational meeting of We Refuse the Rent Increase is planned. We'll talk about the progress of the action so far, our plans for the fall and the preparations for our action in 2023!

Our action group is working hard to be able to organize the action again next year. On the 30th, we will therefore talk to tenants who are locally active for our promotion and those who are interested in becoming active locally and thus helping with the organization for next year. Are you someone who likes to work locally with our action method and who knows how to organize neighbours? Then join us and ask your questions!

You can participate via https://meet.jit.si/wijweigerendehuurverhoging. Register in advance by e-mail is desirable but not mandatory.

To strengthen mutual contact and to start the rental campaign earlier in the autumn in the run-up to 2023, app groups have been formed: nationally, per province and even for a growing number of municipalities. If you can't be on Tuesday August 30, but you still want to be added to such an app group, send an email to info@wijweigerendehuurspreis.nl. Then we'll add you.

FAQ THE RENT INCREASE

We have a FAQ / frequently asked questions page launched on the website! This Frequently Asked Questions for We Refuse the Rent Increase tries to provide insight into the (possible) questions that come with this promotion. Our goal is for people to know and use their rights and for barriers to be removed. In this way we not only provide individual answers to tenants, but we also build up knowledge collectively. If you have a question, take a look to see if you can find the answer in our Step-by-step plan or the FAQ. Is your question not answered? Then send it to us by e-mail!

REFUSE IN THE FREE SECTOR?

Although our action is only allowed in the social rental sector, other types of tenants are of course always welcome to show solidarity, to become active or to simply refuse the rent increase by going on a rent strike. Refusing the rent increase in the free sector is in fact a mini rent strike and entails more risks. We take a closer look at our FAQ. Are you still interested in going on a rental strike after reading the FAQ? then become member of the BPW, read the brochure 'Eat first, then the rent' and make a plan of action.

Have you already refused the rent increase in the free sector this year? We Refuse the Rent Increase has a small working group around the action in the free sector. Join this by to send an email.

WALK-IN SPEAK HOUR AMSTERDAM

A new, weekly walk-in consultation hour is being realized in Amsterdam. The consultation hour has been created to initially help and support those who have refused to pay the rent increase of 1 July and who have questions or problems.

Every Monday from 14:00 – 15:00, Huize Lydia – Roelof Hartplein 28, Amsterdam

Can't make it on June 2? The webinar that follows, and therefore the last one before the rent increase takes effect on July 1, is scheduled for Tuesday, June 14, 14:00 – 15:30.

DONATE!

Support We Refuse the Rent Increase with a donation! We are now over half of our donation goal! Thanks for this! In order to be able to continue to supplement our promotional material and to keep the rest of the campaign going, we ask you to continue to donate. This is how we fight together for a multi-year rent freeze!