The tenants of small business spaces in the Koepelgevangenis in Breda couldnot believe their eyes last week. They unexpectedly received an emailannouncing a huge rent increase. Due to the increased energy rates, the rentis three times higher. About eighty tenants in the complex are frustrated andfurious. Some entrepreneurs are even planning to leave.
In July, the old prison behind the Chasséveld was sold by the government toproject developers. As of October 1, they are the new owners. The complex willbe transformed into the ‘Koepel District’, an open area with houses,businesses, leisure and cultural facilities, which is connected to the citycenter of Breda. For the time being, the complex is still managed by vacancymanager VPS. The tenants received the bad news from that organization lastweek.
To combat vacancy, the complex now houses about eighty small businesses andcreatives. They rent a space through vacancy manager VPS. Last week, aftermonths of radio silence and uncertainty, they suddenly received an e-mail fromthe manager: as of October 1, the service costs will be increased to 100 eurosper square meter per year due to the increased energy rates. In concreteterms, this means that rents will triple.
“Weird that you only hear this ten days in advance.”
Artist Jasper Verhulst and boxing gym owner Gijs Haverman were shocked by thenews about the rent increase. “We only received that e-mail last week, whilethe contract should already start on October 1. It is bizarre that you onlyhear this ten days in advance,” says Jasper.
Artist Jasper Verhulst in his shared space (own photo).
The artist rents a space together with seven others. That now costs them about800 euros. That will soon be 2,500 euros. “We thought the new owner and VPSwould like to continue with us, but it doesn’t seem like that.” The e-mail hasarrived quickly, Jasper says: “The tenants immediately started a WhatsAppgroup to see what we should do with this.”
“I have only seen a proposal, but no contract yet.”
Gijs Havermans has had a boxing gym in the attic of the old Koepelgevangenisfor six months now. He now pays about 900 euros per month. That will be 3,000from October 1. “I’m curious how they will do that, because I’ve only receivedan email with a proposal from VPS, but haven’t seen a contract yet. It’s verystrange.”
Gijs Haverman thought he had found a stable place for his boxing gym.
He trains small groups in his boxing gym. “What they’ll ask for later.. forthat I have to work seven days a week and then I still have to put in money.So not possible.” Gijs thinks the increase is unreasonable. “Red-hot heatingpipes run through my room and in the summer it’s so hot that I can’t reallytrain there.”
“This is the death knell for many.”
The number of square meters that he rents has also been adjusted. “The managerhas now also included the stairs, hallway and toilets. These are common areasthat I can’t close, but that I do have to pay for.” The boxing school ownerhas his doubts whether this is all possible. “We sought legal help, becausethis feels very wrong. You don’t just have any other affordable space in thecity.”
Artist Jasper also sees it gloomy if he really has to pay that much rent more.”Then it stops for me and it is the death knell for many here.” According toboth men, the necessary tenants are already leaving, but Jasper is not givingup yet. “Most want to fight for their place here!”
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