WWS points system for rental properties mandatory from 1 January 2025

Requirement for all rental sectors
With the Good Landlordship Act, the government aims to provide tenants with better access to information. The requirement to provide a points assessment applies to all rental sectors: low, mid, and high-end. Both investors and housing associations will be subject to this requirement.

Enforcement by municipalities
Municipalities will be responsible for supervising and enforcing this requirement. If a landlord breaches the rules, municipalities can take action by issuing a warning, applying administrative enforcement, or even imposing a fine. Enforcement by municipalities and the requirement to provide the points assessment will take effect on 1 January 2025.

What must a WWS points assessment include?
A WWS points assessment must provide a clear overview of how many points a property has, how the rent is structured, and how it relates to rent protection. By developing a validated WWS points report, we can provide clear and concise insight into the total number of points per unit and the breakdown of points by category. The report can be attached to the rental contract, along with any necessary supporting documents if a rent surcharge applies.

To prepare the reports for each unit, we conduct a WWS analysis of the entire housing complex. This analysis provides a comprehensive overview of the point scores in your portfolio. The WWS points report for each unit is based on data from the entire complex, including floor plans, sustainability features, and details about the finishings of items such as kitchens and bathrooms for each unit type.

Supporting documents for a rent surcharge
If a rent surcharge applies, supporting documents must be included with the WWS points report. This may concern surcharges for new construction, listed buildings, or properties with a protected village or cityscape. These documents must demonstrate that the property meets the conditions for the applicable surcharge.

The new construction surcharge applies to entirely new homes, conversions, or the addition of new floors to an existing building. In such cases, the following must be demonstrated:
• The start date of construction for the property
• The date the property was first occupied
• Whether there has been a change of use (such as in the case of conversions)

What can we do for you?
By starting preparations early, you can ensure compliance with the WWS points assessment requirement by 1 January 2025. Additionally, understanding the number of WWS points provides an opportunity to explore potential optimisations that could increase the points per unit.

The benefits:
• A reliable calculation of WWS points per unit
• Insight into the total number of points across your portfolio
• (If desired) advice on optimising your property/properties to increase the points per unit

Contact
For more information about options and rates, please contact Rick van Zwet of Flinn Berks.