How the City Retreat Rental Agreement Works
Every City Retreat home comes with the same agreement. This page explains it in plain English: what you sign, what the monthly rent covers, how you register in the BRP at the address, and how notice works.
One Agreement for Every Home
Every home is let on a residential tenancy agreement for an indefinite period. You can give one calendar month's notice once the initial period in your agreement has passed. Those two sentences are the core of it, and they are the same whichever home you choose.
A residential tenancy agreement, in Dutch a huurovereenkomst woonruimte, is the contract under which you rent a home to live in. An indefinite period means the agreement names the day your tenancy starts, and the tenancy continues from there. The initial period is the first part of it. Its length is written in your agreement, and during it you cannot give notice. Once it has passed, you give notice by email.
Everything That's Included in Every Apartment
🛋️ Furniture & Living
- Sofas, dining table and chairs
- Beds with mattresses — all sizes
- Wardrobes, storage and shelving
- Desk or workspace in every apartment
- Curtains, blinds or window coverings
- Lamps and lighting throughout
🍳 Kitchen
- Pots, pans and cooking utensils
- Plates, bowls, glasses and cutlery
- Kettle, toaster and coffee equipment
- Chopping boards, knives and essentials
- Cleaning products and bin liners
- Washing machine in the apartment
🛏️ Bedroom & Bathroom
- Fresh duvet, pillows and covers
- Towels for each occupant
- Hand towels and bath mat
- Coat hangers
- Bathroom essentials (toilet roll, soap)
⚡ Utilities & Connectivity
- Gas, electricity and water — all in our name
- High-speed Wi-Fi (500 Mbps minimum)
- No Dutch energy provider to set up
- No annual utility reconciliation
- All costs included in your monthly rent
The monthly figure covers everything above plus your rent: gas, electricity, water, Wi-Fi, furnishings, linen and towels. Utilities are included up to the usage allowance in your agreement. No hidden charges, no end-of-year energy reconciliation, no separate bills to track. For a detailed breakdown of what Amsterdam utilities typically cost when managed independently, see our Amsterdam utility costs guide.
From Signing to Your First Week
Here is what happens once your application is confirmed, in the order it happens.
You Sign the Agreement
We send you the agreement to sign. It states your start date, your monthly rent and the length of your initial period.
If Your Plans Change Before the Start
You can withdraw free of charge within 48 hours of signing the agreement, or at any time up to one month before the start date. After that the first month's rent is payable.
The Deposit
The deposit is one month's rent. It is returned within 14 days of the end of the tenancy.
Key Handover
We agree the key handover time with you by email. At the apartment we walk you through it: keys, how everything works, where things are. We make an inspection report with photos at the start and end of the tenancy.
You Register at the Address
You register in the BRP at the address within five days of moving in. We send you the instructions before your tenancy starts. Your BSN follows from registration. The apartment is your main residence. Our registration guide covers the appointment and the documents.
Support Throughout Your Tenancy
Once you have moved in, our Amsterdam-based team handles maintenance, queries and any issues throughout your tenancy.
Professional Cleaning
City Retreat arranges a professional clean before you move in and at the end of the tenancy. Cleaning during the tenancy can be requested at extra cost with four days' notice.
Maintenance Support
Log any issue with our team and a local contractor is typically on-site within two working days. We hold the keys — no chasing landlords or waiting for access to be arranged.
We Hold the Keys
City Retreat manages the keys for every apartment we operate. Access for maintenance, cleaning and move-in is always coordinated by us. No disputes over access, no waiting for a remote landlord to respond.
English-Speaking Team
Our Amsterdam-based team operates in English. Every query, maintenance request and admin question gets a direct response — not a ticket system, not a chatbot.
All-Inclusive Pricing
One monthly figure covers rent, all utilities, Wi-Fi, full furnishings, kitchen equipment, bed linen and towels, and maintenance support. No setup costs, no separate bills.
The initial period also affects the rent. Agree a four-month initial period and your monthly rent is 10% lower for the whole tenancy. The season can lower it too. Tenancies starting between 1 November and 28 February have a 10% lower monthly rent for the whole tenancy. Both apply together when you qualify for both. The rent reductions page sets them out.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need to bring anything?
Just your suitcase and personal belongings. Everything else — furniture, kitchen equipment, linen, towels, cleaning supplies — is already in the apartment. Utilities and Wi-Fi are active from day one.
Are the photos of the apartments accurate?
Yes. City Retreat visits and photographs every apartment before advertising it. We only use current photos of the actual apartment. No stock images, no photos from a different floor. What you see is what you get.
What if something breaks or needs maintenance?
Contact our team by email or phone and we'll arrange for a local contractor to visit, typically within two working days. Because City Retreat holds the keys to every apartment we manage, access is never a problem. You don't need to be present — we'll coordinate directly and update you when it's resolved.
Do I need to set up Dutch utility accounts?
No. Gas, electricity, water and Wi-Fi are all in City Retreat's name and included in your monthly rent. You never need to contact a Dutch energy provider, set up direct debits, or deal with an end-of-year reconciliation bill. The monthly figure you agree is the figure you pay — every month.
Everything Is Already Done.
Browse available apartments — fully furnished, professionally cleaned, and ready to move into within days.
View Available Apartments →The Four City Retreat Commitments
Every City Retreat tenancy is backed by four commitments. This page covers the third. Click through to read about the others.