Negotiating lease renewal terms | Learn Dutch in English

Dutch lesson set in a contemporary Amsterdam everyday setting: In a housing office discussion, a tenant asks which lease renewal terms may be negotiable for a longer and more stable commitment..

EN → NL / Level: B2

About This Lesson

Use Negotiating lease renewal terms to practice Dutch conversation, pronunciation, vocabulary, grammar, and quizzes.

Dialogue

A

Ik heb de kennisgeving over de huurverlenging ontvangen en wil de voorwaarden graag bespreken.

ik hehp duh KEN-is-khay-fing OH-vur duh HYUR-vur-LENG-ikh un vil duh VOOR-vahr-dun khrahkh beh-SPRAY-kun. I received the renewal notice and would like to discuss terms.
B

We kunnen de verlenging samen bekijken en zien op welke punten er ruimte is voor aanpassingen.

vuh KUN-nun duh vur-LENG-ikh SAM-un beh-KY-kun un zayn op WEL-kuh PUN-tun er ROYM-tuh is voor AAN-pas-sing-un. We can look at the renewal together and see where there is room to adjust.
A

Ik ben altijd een betrouwbare huurder geweest en onderhoud het appartement zorgvuldig.

ik ben AHL-tayt un beh-TROW-bah-ruh HYUR-dur khuh-VAYST un on-dur-HOWT ut ah-pahr-tuh-MENT ZORKH-vul-dukh. I have been a reliable tenant and maintain the apartment carefully.
B

Dat geeft me nuttige achtergrondinformatie voordat ik met de eigenaar praat.

dat khayft muh NUT-tuh-khuh AKH-tur-khrownt-in-for-MAH-tsee vohr-DAHT ik met duh AY-khuh-NAHR prahT. That gives me helpful context before I speak with the owner.
A

Ik hoop op een langer huurcontract met stabielere voorwaarden.

ik HOHP op un LANG-ur HYUR-kon-trakt met stah-BEEL-uh-ruh VOOR-vahr-dun. I am hoping for a longer lease with more stable terms.
B

Als je je aan een langer huurcontract kunt verbinden, kan ik vragen naar beter voorspelbare voorwaarden.

als yuh yuh ahn un LANG-ur HYUR-kon-trakt kunt vər-BIN-dun, kan ik VRAH-khun NAHR BAY-tur vohr-SPLAY-bah-ruh VOOR-vahr-dun. If you can commit to a longer lease, I can ask about more predictable terms.
A

Kunt u aangeven over welke voorwaarden er daadwerkelijk onderhandeld kan worden?

kunt oo AAN-khuh-vay-vun OH-vur WEL-kuh VOOR-vahr-dun er DAHT-WER-kuh-luk on-dur-HAN-dult kan VOR-dun? Could you outline which terms are actually negotiable?
B

Het algemene beleid ligt vast, maar bij de voorwaarden voor verlenging is misschien enige flexibiliteit mogelijk.

ut ahl-khuh-MAY-nuh buh-LAYT likht vast, mar bay duh VOOR-vahr-dun voor vur-LENG-ikh is mis-SKHEEN AY-nuh flex-uh-bil-uh-TAYT MOH-khuh-luk. The general policy is fixed, but the renewal conditions may have some flexibility.

Word by Word

Ik ‘Ik’ means ‘I’ here and is the subject of the speaker’s statement. Use it to identify yourself as the person receiving, hoping, or acting.
heb ‘heb’ means ‘have’ here and helps form the completed action in ‘Ik heb de kennisgeving over de huurverlenging ontvangen’. Use it before a completed-action form when describing something you have received or done.
de ‘de’ means ‘the’ before ‘kennisgeving’, referring to a specific notice. Use it before a noun when the listener can identify the thing being discussed.
kennisgeving ‘kennisgeving’ means ‘notice’, specifically the formal notice mentioned in the housing discussion. Use it for an official written notification, such as one about a contract or change.
over ‘over’ means ‘about’ or ‘concerning’ in ‘kennisgeving over de huurverlenging’. Use it before the subject that a notice, conversation, or document concerns.
huurverlenging ‘huurverlenging’ means ‘lease renewal’, the continuation of the tenant’s rental arrangement. It is useful when discussing a notice, request, or decision connected with extending a lease.
ontvangen ‘ontvangen’ means ‘received’ here and completes the statement about getting the notice. Use it for receiving a document, message, payment, or other item.
en ‘en’ means ‘and’ and links receiving the notice with wanting to discuss the terms. Use it to join related words, phrases, or actions.
wil ‘wil’ expresses the speaker’s wish to discuss the terms. In ‘wil de voorwaarden graag bespreken’, it is followed by the action the speaker wants to take; use this structure to state a desire.
voorwaarden ‘voorwaarden’ means ‘terms’ or ‘conditions’, referring to the points of the lease that may be discussed. Use it for the requirements or arrangements attached to an agreement.
graag ‘graag’ makes the wish in ‘de voorwaarden graag bespreken’ sound willing and polite. Use it with an action to express that you would like to do something.
bespreken ‘bespreken’ means ‘discuss’ in the context of discussing lease terms. It follows ‘wil’ in ‘wil de voorwaarden graag bespreken’; use it when talking through a topic with another person.
We ‘We’ means ‘we’ and refers to the housing-office representative together with the tenant. Use it when the speaker includes themselves and at least one other person in an action.
kunnen ‘kunnen’ means ‘can’ or ‘be able to’ in ‘We kunnen de verlenging samen bekijken’. It is followed by an action and is useful for offering or describing a possible joint activity.
verlenging ‘verlenging’ means ‘extension’ or ‘renewal’, referring here to the continuation of the lease. Use it for extending an agreement, period, or arrangement.
samen ‘samen’ means ‘together’ and shows that both people will examine the renewal jointly. Use it to emphasize shared participation in an action.
bekijken ‘bekijken’ means ‘look at’ or ‘examine’ here, referring to reviewing the renewal. Use it when you want to inspect or consider a document, proposal, or situation.
zien ‘zien’ means ‘see’ here in the sense of finding out which points allow adjustment. Use it when examining a situation to determine what is possible.
op In ‘op welke punten’, ‘op’ means ‘on’ or ‘at’ and introduces the aspects being considered. Use it before a point, area, or aspect when identifying where something applies.
welke ‘welke’ means ‘which’ and asks the listener to select particular points. Use it before a noun when asking someone to identify one or more items from a set.
punten ‘punten’ means ‘points’ or ‘aspects’, referring to parts of the renewal terms. Use it for specific issues or items within a discussion, proposal, or agreement.
er ‘er’ helps present the existence of room for adjustments in ‘er ruimte is’. Use it in sentences that introduce something available, present, or possible without naming it as the main subject first.
ruimte ‘ruimte’ means ‘room’ here in the figurative sense of scope or flexibility for changes. Use it when saying that there is scope to adjust, negotiate, or act.
is ‘is’ means ‘is’ and states that room for adjustments exists. Use it to connect a subject or situation with a description or condition.
voor ‘voor’ means ‘for’ in ‘ruimte is voor aanpassingen’, identifying what the available room concerns. Use it before the thing that an opportunity, space, or provision is intended for.
aanpassingen ‘aanpassingen’ means ‘adjustments’, referring to possible changes in the renewal terms. Use it for modifications to an agreement, plan, setting, or arrangement.
ben ‘ben’ means ‘am’ in the speaker’s description of being a reliable tenant. It appears with ‘geweest’ in ‘ben altijd een betrouwbare huurder geweest’; use it when describing yourself.
altijd ‘altijd’ means ‘always’ and emphasizes that the speaker has consistently been reliable. Use it to describe something that happens or has been true on every relevant occasion.
een ‘een’ means ‘a’ or ‘an’ before ‘betrouwbare huurder’. Use it to introduce one non-specific person, object, or example.
betrouwbare ‘betrouwbare’ means ‘reliable’ and describes the tenant in ‘een betrouwbare huurder’. Use it before a noun for a person or thing that can be depended on.
huurder ‘huurder’ means ‘tenant’, the person renting the apartment. Use it when discussing someone’s role in a rental agreement or housing arrangement.
geweest ‘geweest’ means ‘been’ and completes the description that the speaker has been a reliable tenant. Use it with a form of ‘zijn’ when describing a past state or identity.
onderhoud ‘onderhoud’ means ‘maintain’ here, referring to taking careful care of the apartment. It takes ‘het appartement’ as its object; use it when describing regular care of a property or item.
het ‘het’ means ‘the’ before ‘appartement’, referring to the specific apartment being rented. Use it before a noun when the particular thing is already known in the situation.
appartement ‘appartement’ means ‘apartment’, the rented home that the speaker maintains. Use it when discussing a residential unit or the condition of someone’s home.
zorgvuldig ‘zorgvuldig’ means ‘carefully’ and describes how the speaker maintains the apartment. Use it to show that an action is performed with care and attention.
Dat ‘Dat’ means ‘that’ and refers to the speaker’s information about being a reliable tenant and maintaining the apartment. Use it to point back to something just mentioned.
geeft ‘geeft’ means ‘gives’ in ‘Dat geeft me nuttige achtergrondinformatie’. Use it in the pattern where one fact, action, or thing provides someone with information or another benefit.
me ‘me’ means ‘me’ and identifies the person receiving the background information. Use it after a verb when the speaker is the recipient of something.
nuttige ‘nuttige’ means ‘useful’ and describes the background information as helpful for the next conversation. Use it before a noun for something that provides practical value.
achtergrondinformatie ‘achtergrondinformatie’ means ‘background information’, namely context that helps the representative speak with the owner. Use it for supporting facts or context needed before a discussion or decision.
voordat ‘voordat’ means ‘before’ and introduces the conversation with the owner that has not yet happened. Use it to connect one action with an earlier point in time.
met In ‘met de eigenaar’, ‘met’ means ‘with’ and identifies the person the speaker will talk to. Use it before a person when describing communication or an activity done together.
eigenaar ‘eigenaar’ means ‘owner’, referring here to the person who owns the property. Use it when discussing the owner’s role in a housing, property, or agreement matter.
praat ‘praat’ means ‘talks’ or ‘speaks’ in the clause about speaking with the owner. Use it with a person introduced by ‘met’ when describing a conversation.
hoop ‘hoop’ means ‘hope’ in the speaker’s wish for a longer lease. It appears in ‘Ik hoop op een langer huurcontract’; use it to express a desired outcome.
langer ‘langer’ means ‘longer’ and describes the requested lease as lasting for more time. Use it before a noun when comparing duration.
huurcontract ‘huurcontract’ means ‘lease contract’, the agreement governing the rental. Use it when discussing the formal contract between a tenant and a property owner.
stabielere ‘stabielere’ means ‘more stable’ and describes the requested terms as more consistent or secure. Use it before a noun when comparing the stability of arrangements or conditions.
Als ‘Als’ means ‘if’ and introduces the condition of committing to a longer lease. Use it at the start of a conditional statement about what may happen under a certain circumstance.
je The first ‘je’ means ‘you’, while the repeated ‘je’ in ‘je je aan een langer huurcontract kunt verbinden’ refers back to the same person. This pattern is used when someone commits themselves to something.
aan ‘aan’ links the commitment to the lease in ‘je je aan een langer huurcontract kunt verbinden’. Use it in this commitment pattern before the agreement, duty, or matter someone binds themselves to.
verbinden ‘verbinden’ means ‘commit’ or ‘bind’ in the phrase about committing to a longer lease. It follows ‘kunt’ here; use it when describing a person taking on a commitment.
kunt ‘kunt’ means ‘can’ or ‘are able to’ in the condition about committing to a longer lease. Use it before an action to describe someone’s ability or possibility.
kan ‘kan’ means ‘can’ in ‘kan ik vragen naar beter voorspelbare voorwaarden’. It describes what the representative is able or willing to ask about; use it before an action.
vragen ‘vragen’ means ‘ask’ or ‘inquire’, specifically asking about more predictable terms. It appears with ‘naar’; use it when requesting information about a person, issue, or arrangement.
naar ‘naar’ means ‘about’ or ‘for information concerning’ in ‘vragen naar beter voorspelbare voorwaarden’. Use it after ‘vragen’ to introduce the subject of an inquiry.
beter ‘beter’ contributes the comparative meaning ‘more’ in ‘beter voorspelbare voorwaarden’, giving ‘more predictable terms’. Use it before a describing word when comparing the quality of one arrangement with another.
voorspelbare ‘voorspelbare’ means ‘predictable’ and describes terms whose outcome or operation is easier to anticipate. Together with ‘beter’, it describes terms that are more predictable.
u ‘u’ means ‘you’ in formal or polite address. It is used here for the person being asked to outline the negotiable terms.
aangeven ‘aangeven’ means ‘indicate’ or ‘outline’, asking the listener to specify which terms can be negotiated. It follows ‘Kunt u’; use it when requesting a clear explanation or identification.
daadwerkelijk ‘daadwerkelijk’ means ‘actually’ or ‘in fact’ and emphasizes whether the terms are genuinely negotiable. Use it when checking the real situation rather than only a general possibility.
onderhandeld ‘onderhandeld’ means ‘negotiated’ in ‘onderhandeld kan worden’. With this construction, it describes terms about which negotiation may take place.
worden ‘worden’ means ‘be’ in the passive construction ‘onderhandeld kan worden’. Use it with an action form when focusing on what can happen rather than on who performs it.
algemene ‘algemene’ means ‘general’ and describes the policy as applying broadly rather than to one special case. Use it before a noun when referring to an overall rule or approach.
beleid ‘beleid’ means ‘policy’, referring to the general rules of the housing office. Use it for an organization’s established rules or approach to a matter.
ligt In ‘ligt vast’, ‘ligt’ contributes to the meaning ‘is fixed’ or ‘stands as settled’. Use this expression when describing a rule, decision, or condition that is not open to change.
vast ‘vast’ means ‘fixed’ or ‘set’ in ‘ligt vast’, describing the general policy as settled. Use it with this expression for rules or arrangements that cannot readily be adjusted.
maar ‘maar’ means ‘but’ and contrasts the fixed general policy with possible flexibility in the renewal conditions. Use it to connect two contrasting statements.
bij ‘bij’ means ‘with’ or ‘in the case of’ in ‘bij de voorwaarden voor verlenging’. It identifies the specific area where flexibility may exist; use it before a matter or case under discussion.
misschien ‘misschien’ means ‘perhaps’ or ‘maybe’ and makes the possibility of flexibility uncertain rather than definite. Use it when presenting a possible situation without making a firm claim.
enige ‘enige’ means ‘some’ or ‘a certain amount of’ before ‘flexibiliteit’. Use it to refer to a limited or unspecified amount of something.
flexibiliteit ‘flexibiliteit’ means ‘flexibility’, referring to the possibility of changing or negotiating renewal conditions. Use it when an arrangement allows some room for adjustment.
mogelijk ‘mogelijk’ means ‘possible’ in ‘enige flexibiliteit mogelijk’. It states that some flexibility may be feasible; use it to describe whether an option or change can be realized.

Grammar Points

betrouwbare + zelfstandig naamwoord

een betrouwbare huurder

un beh-TROW-bah-ruh HYUR-dur

a reliable tenant

Een bijvoeglijk naamwoord krijgt vóór een de-woord meestal de uitgang -e: betrouwbaar wordt betrouwbare.

samengestelde zelfstandige naamwoorden

huurverlenging

HYUR-vur-LENG-ikh

lease renewal

Twee zelfstandige naamwoorden worden in het Nederlands vaak samengevoegd tot één woord: huur + verlenging.

Dutch Vocabulary

aanpassingen noun
AAN-pas-sing-un adjustments
achtergrondinformatie noun
AKH-tur-khrownt-in-for-MAH-tsee background information
bespreken verb
beh-SPRAY-kun to discuss
betrouwbare adj
beh-TROW-bah-ruh reliable
huurder noun
HYUR-dur tenant
huurverlenging noun
HYUR-vur-LENG-ikh lease renewal
kennisgeving noun
KEN-is-khay-fing notice
onderhoud verb
on-dur-HOWT maintain
ontvangen verb
ont-VAHN-khun to receive
verlenging noun
vur-LENG-ikh renewal; extension
voorwaarden noun
VOOR-vahr-dun terms; conditions
zorgvuldig adv
ZORKH-vul-dukh carefully

Quiz

Spelling

Tap the letters to spell the word.

terms; conditions

Show Answervoorwaarden

reliable

Show Answerbetrouwbare

renewal; extension

Show Answerverlenging

to receive

Show Answerontvangen