Reading a Rental Contract Clause
You are reading a short Dutch rental advertisement and a clause from the contract. The ad says the room is 'per direct beschikbaar' (available immediately) for 450 euros per month, excluding utilities. The contract clause says: 'De huurder betaalt maandelijks 60 euro voorschot voor gas, water en licht. Bij vertrek binnen zes maanden is de eerste maand huur niet terugbetaalbaar.' A friend plans to stay only four months and asks whether the room is really 450 euros and whether she can get her money back if she leaves early.
1. What is the true monthly cost, and what does the contract clause mean for a four-month stay?
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The true monthly cost is not 450 euros. The ad's 450 euros excludes utilities, and the contract adds a 60-euro monthly advance for gas, water and electricity, so the realistic monthly outlay is about 510 euros. On the early-departure question, the clause says that if the tenant leaves within six months, the first month's rent is non-refundable. A four-month stay falls within that six-month window, so the first month's rent would not be returned. The friend should budget for roughly 510 euros per month and understand that leaving after four months triggers the non-refundable first month. The answer must combine the ad figure with the contract clause - neither text alone gives the full picture.
2. What further questions should the friend ask before signing, based on gaps in the two texts?
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The texts leave several things unsaid, and a careful reader should identify them. (1) 'Excluding utilities' plus a 60-euro advance raises the question of whether the advance is a fixed amount or an estimate reconciled later - if usage is high, an extra bill may follow. (2) The clause mentions the first month's rent but not the deposit - is there one, and is it refundable? (3) 'Available immediately' does not state the minimum rental period or notice period, which matters for a four-month stay. (4) The clause does not say whether the 60-euro advance is also affected by early departure. (5) Nothing is said about registration at the address, which matters for a short stay. A strong answer lists these as questions to ask the landlord, showing that reading comprehension includes noticing omissions, not only decoding stated facts.