Chapter 2 - The first few days in Rotterdam Rent Rent for rooms in Erasmus International House (EIH) is inclusive of furniture, local taxes, internet, gas, electricity and water. The first rent has to be paid at the front office of the rental company and owner of the building, Vestia Rotterdam Stadswonen. Address: Vestia Rotterdam Stadswonen Goudsesingel 66 3011 KD Rotterdam Tel: 010 - 8007200 www.stadswonen.nl From then on you will receive an invoice for the rent each month. Rent has to be paid in advance every month before the first day of the month. Rent can be paid with a credit card (Visa- or Master card), a Dutch debit card or bank transfer. Pre-authorized debit is an efficient way of paying your rent as well. This way your bills are automatically deducted from your bank account. For more information on pre-authorized debit, contact Vestia Rotterdam Stadswonen shortstaystadswonen@vestia.nl. Rent cannot be paid in cash. Opening hours: Monday – Friday: 9.00 – 17.30 hours. Please make sure to save all bank statements and/or receipts concerning rent payments so when you are leaving for home, you can prove that you paid all rent. If you fail to pay your rent in time, Vestia Rotterdam Stadswonen will send you a reminder and will charge a late payment fee of € 10,00.
Debts not settled will affect the release of grade lists or diplomas. Rent increase Each year rent for rooms in Erasmus International House (EIH) will increase with a maximum of 4% due to the annual rise of predominantly city and county taxes, the rise of city services and utilities and the actual rent. Rotterdam University also withholds the right to increase the rent at the beginning of Spring semester. Registration with the local authorities Each international (exchange) student who will stay in Rotterdam longer than 4 months needs to register with the local authorities (GBA office at city hall) (please check the information on http://www.rotterdam.nl/registrationinmunicipalpopulationregister).You will need a ‘Verhuurdersverklaring’ (from Vestia) to register This is a declaration by your landlord that he agrees with you registering and using one of his addresses. Upon arrival you will receive this form from Student Housing Office. Visa and MVV For information regarding Visa and MVV you can contact the GRSS office RBS@hr.nl . Banks and currency Today’s Dutch currency is the Euro. Most people in the Netherlands pay with cash or (Dutch) debit cards in stores. It will take approximately two to three weeks to set up a Dutch bank account. When you go to the bank you will need your tenancy agreement, letter of acceptance which you received from the International Office, your id-cart or passport and a social security number (sofinummer). Please contact the ‘Belastingdienst’ for more information on the social security number http://www.belastingdienst.nl/variabel/buitenland/en/citizen_service_number/citizen_service_number04.html . Credit cards are accepted in most stores but not in most supermarkets and small shops. Most accepted cards are Visa- and Master card. There is a wide range of ATM machines. 6 J:\StudentHousingOffice\EIH-gebouw\fall 2013