Municipal Debt Counselling Act (WGS)
The legislative framework in brief
The Municipal Debt Counselling Act (Wet gemeentelijke schuldhulpverlening, WGS) governs how municipalities assist households with problematic debts. What is particularly relevant for landlords is that in many situations involving rent payment arrears, an early signal must be submitted to the tenant's municipality — so that assistance can start in time and escalation can be prevented. The detailed implementation takes place through covenants, model agreements and digital notification portals.
Government guidance: see, among others, Volkshuisvesting Nederland — questions and answers on the amended WGS. Industry information and portals: NVVK — vroegsignalering.
What this means in practice
- Early signalling is not an "optional extra"; it is embedded in the statutory framework for debt counselling.
- Notifying promptly increases the chance that debt counselling takes effect before arrears become unmanageable.
- It connects with the out-of-court process and sometimes a temporary suspension (debt moratorium) after acceptance of assistance — as described by chain partners.
Support from Van den Bosch
We act as a signal partner for landlords: we combine legal expertise with taking the burden of notification obligations and collection files off your hands. Start with guidance on rent arrears or the page on NVVK and outsourcing.
All pages in this tenancy section
Contact
Call 030 – 87 88 524 or email info@adviesenincasso.nl.