Amsterdam overcharges home owners whose properties are built on council ground, the city’s audit office said on Wednesday.

Most land in the capital is owned by the council, which charges home owners ground rent (erfpacht) to use it. The annual fee is usually fixed for a 50 or 75-year period.
The audit office research shows more than half of home owners faced with a new ground rent payment appeal against the size of the fee, and in 82% of cases their protest is upheld.
On average the difference amounts to €591 a year.
The audit office says the council would actually save money if it reduced ground rents because it would not have to pay for the appeal process.