Your apartment building from the 1960s looks solid enough from the outside. Inside, you’ve modernized everything, new kitchen, fresh paint, modern bathroom. But the roof is original, the concrete is cracking, and the lift shakes suspiciously. The VvE (Association of Owners) contribution hasn’t increased in five years, stuck at €130 per month while inflation has eaten away at its purchasing power. This isn’t a hypothetical scenario, it’s the reality facing thousands of Dutch apartment owners who are discovering their buildings’ maintenance funds are a financial mirage.
The Math That Doesn’t Add Up
A recent case highlights the brutal arithmetic. The MJOP (Multi-Year Maintenance Plan) estimated roof replacement at €20,000. The actual quote came in at €70,000. The lift, when it eventually fails, will cost a similar fortune. After insurance, water, and other fixed costs are deducted from that €130 monthly contribution, barely anything remains for the reserve fund.
This is where the problem becomes dangerous. Many owners, particularly those who rent out their apartments, view VvE contributions as an expense to minimize rather than an investment in their property’s future. They skip meetings, vote down increases, and kick the can down the road. But concrete doesn’t negotiate. Betonrot (concrete rot) progresses silently. Leaks appear. Mold spreads. Suddenly, your apartment’s value drops not because of market conditions, but because the building itself is becoming uninhabitable.
Why Rental Owners Become the Biggest Obstacle
The conflict intensifies when investors enter the equation. Rental property owners often have different incentives than resident owners. They prioritize immediate cash flow over long-term capital preservation. A €50 monthly increase in VvE contributions directly reduces their rental yield. Worse, many believe they can sell before the maintenance bill arrives, passing the problem to the next buyer.
This creates a toxic dynamic where the majority can block necessary increases, even when the minority understands the financial time bomb ticking beneath them. One owner described the frustration: