What does Semi-furnished mean?

• Hello All,
  Does anybody know what does the term "semi-furnished" include here in the Netherlands? I signed a contract for a semi-furnished apartment. In the apartment there is only one small fridge and a stove. There is no oven, no washing-mashine, no lights and no curtains. Of course, there is no furniture either. So, what does semi-furnished mean? I was promised by the rental ageny (DirectWonen) that I will have lights and curtains. Are those a part of the "semi-furnished" term? The alndlord now is telling me to get my own light fixtures for the place and my own curtains. Is this right? Can you call a place "semi-furnished" only by having a fridge and a stove? Does anybody out there have an idea on this matter?
  Thanks.

  29 Sep 2005, 03:28 Anonymous

Replies

• Dutch Landlords & DirectWonen

  I am moving to the Netherlands in November and I keep reading horror stories about Dutch landlords. Sounds like a lot of deception. From what I understand from my dutch friends, dutch people do a lot of work when they rent a place. This one guy I know had to plaster some of the walls, paint the walls and put a floor down in his flat before he was able to move in. He took a bank loan out to fix up his rental.
  
  Now in America, a place has to look great before anybody moves in. We have certain standards (appliances, lighting fixtures, paint and carpetting) and renters have a lot of choices so we can be sticklers about what we agree to move in to. I think that Dutch culture is a little different. Everything apartment seems like a fixer upper or something. And even though you're just renting, the rents are so low for them that it's not worth it to squabble over paint and ovens. That's my guess.
  
  As for DirectWonen, I am NOT using that agency when I get there. DirectWonen seems to side with the landlords too much. One landlord that I know who used them loves the job that they did for her. When I hear about tenants, everyone seems jipped or screwed over somehow.
  
  I am going with Rots-Vast Groep. Hopefully, I will have a good story to report!

  Anonymous 04 Oct 2005, 04:48 - Report

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  Anonymous 05 Oct 2005, 05:42 - Report