Amsterdam’s city audit office has revealed that the council often overcharges homeowners for ground rent on council land.
Most land in the city is owned by the council, which charges a ground rent that is fixed for 50 years. This can be around €1,000 year in central areas. When the ground lease expires most homeowners appeal against the new rent set by the city council and in about 80 per cent of cases their protests are upheld.
The difference between the amount of ground rent asked by the council and that awarded on appeal can be over €500 a year.
