Wanneer er een aannemingsovereenkomst wordt gesloten tussen aannemer en opdrachtgever, komt het soms nog weleens voor dat er meer kosten worden gemaakt dan in eerste instantie is afgesproken tussen partijen. Deze kosten worden ook wel meerwerkkosten genoemd. Op 1 juli 2022 heeft de Hoge Raad in een arrest (ECLI:HR:2022:989) meer duidelijkheid gegeven over de interpretatie van de tenzij-clausule die voortvloeit uit artikel 7:755 BW.[1]

Juridisch kader

Meerwerkkosten bij een aannemingsovereenkomst lees verder

Voor vastgoedondernemers kan het soms voordeliger zijn om zelf de bedrijfsruimte te exploiteren dan het te verhuren aan een particulier. Wanneer dit geval zich voordoet wil je als vastgoedondernemer de huurovereenkomst het liefst opzeggen. Op grond van artikel 7:274 lid 1 BW gelden er zes opzeggingsgronden voor de verhuurder van woonruimte. In deze blog zal de opzeggingsgrond “dringend eigen gebruik” conform artikel 7:274 lid 1 sub c BW nader besproken worden aan de hand van een recente uitspraak van de Hoge Raad.[1] lees verder

One Belt and Road Initiative in Europe – legal perspective

The Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) is a global infrastructure development strategy embraced by the Chinese government to build both land and maritime connections between Asia and Africa and Europe regions in pursuit of the improvement of regional integration, increase of trade and growth of the global economy. The main focus under BRI has been infrastructure, including railways, ports, roads, airports, telecommunication facilities and energy facilities. The initiative has already been listed as one of the largest infrastructure and investment projects in history. What does the relationship between China and other countries look like? And what can be explained from a legal point of view? In this article, we at Amice Advocaten will reflect on the foregoing questions. lees verder

1. Agreements between project developer and municipality

An environmental permit is required for the realization of a new project. The project developer needs the cooperation of the municipality as a public body, especially if the planning framework with the correct zoning plan is still lacking.

The municipal executive can promise public-law cooperation, but cannot guarantee that the desired permit, if granted at all, will be irrevocable. The municipality has an best efforts obligation, not an obligation of result. The municipality has a dual role when it performs activities as a public law person but also acts as a private law person. lees verder

Risks and issues when drafting contracts for international sale of goods

International trade refers to the exchange of products and/or services with the following key elements: buyer and seller; export and import. Usually, the contracting parties are from two different countries in which they are incorporated under different laws. Hence, the contracting parties require a contract for the international sale of goods. This contract generally focuses on the benefits of a transaction between the contracting parties and on the potential risks that may arise between buyer and seller in the transaction, etc. Therefore, the contract for international sale of goods plays a vital role and as a bridge in international trade. lees verder

On 1 July 2021, the Netherlands had more than 8.0 million homes.[1] In daily life it is inevitable to meet nuisance from your neighbors, one of the most bothering moments would be the unpleasant renovation or extension work of your neighbors.

Building permit and regulations

A construction permit may be required depending on different kinds of renovation work. It can be checked on the website of the municipality where your property is located. The application will be assessed by the municipality, and the result will be published on their website. It is an administrative decision, meaning you have the right to raise an objection, as long as you are a “concerned party” and the decision will affect your life. It is worth noting that the term for an objection is strict. You need to file the objection within six weeks after the decision is published. (please find more information in our article: De Bezwaarprocedure En De Termijnoverschrijding) lees verder

Let’s imagine a horrible situation that you have bought a house in the Netherlands and later after you signed the purchase agreement, you discover defects and deficiencies. For instance, a fault occurs to the existing equipment like bathtub, lavatory and the existing internal damages of the wall, etc. So then, how could you protect self-interests under such circumstances?

1. The importance of the purchase agreement

According to Dutch Civil Law Article 7:1, the purchase and the sale of real estate property must be recorded in a written agreement, i.e., the purchase contract. The purchase agreement can either be drafted in Dutch or in English. You can propose to apply a NVM agreement[1], or a custom agreement drafted by the (private) seller, as long as it is operated under Dutch Law. It is worth noting that the legal rules on defects are not compulsory, which means the parties can agree on extra promises upon the contract. In many situations, the model agreement is used when considering buying or selling existing homes[2]. On the basis of the purchase agreement, all defects to the delivered house are in principle for the account of the buyer, however, an exception is made for defects that can prevent normal use of the home. lees verder

假设一个极其糟糕的情况：您在荷兰购买了一套房产，和对方签署买卖合同后，却发现房屋存在缺陷，比如，浴缸、洗碗机等现有设备出现故障，墙壁存在肉眼可见的损坏。在这种情况下，您该如何维护自身利益呢？

1. 房屋买卖合同很关键

根据荷兰民法典7:1，房地产买卖必须采用书面形式，即签订房屋买卖合同.您可以使用荷兰语或英语起草合同。您可以采用NVM协议[1]，或者由卖方（私人）起草的协议，只要其适用荷兰相关法律。值得注意的是，关于房屋缺陷的法律规定不是强制性的，即可以通过合同另有约定。在大多数情况下，购买或出售现有房屋[2]时会使用示范合同。根据购买协议，已交付房屋的缺陷原则上由买方承担，但妨碍房屋正常使用的除外。 lees verder

In international commercial activities, it is inevitable to encounter disputes between parties. There are usually two ways to resolve disputes, namely litigation and arbitration.

Recognition and enforcement of foreign court judgements in China

However, due to the judicial sovereignty of a country, the cross-border dispute resolution can be complicated, especially on the recognition and enforcement of foreign court judgements.

According to Articles 281 and 282 of the Civil Procedure Law of the People’s Republic of China (“Civil Procedure Law”): lees verder

Inleiding

De huidige negatieve rente en inflatie dwingen veel spaarders tot een avontuur op de huizenmarkt. Dit is niet zonder risico. Er zijn woningen die om asbest, burenhinder of wat voor reden dan ook minder aantrekkelijk zijn dan ze bij het tekenen leken. Professionele partijen laten het doorgaans niet zover komen, maar particulieren die een enkele beleggingswoning kopen hebben vaak niet de ervaring om zich ervoor te behoeden. Voor consumenten biedt de wet kopersbescherming. Geldt dat ook als zij een beleggingswoning kopen om te verhuren? lees verder