Because notaries frequently interact with the land registry, they often receive a discount on the standard rate for cadastral research. The notary is obligated to deduct this discount from the fee charged to the buyer of a home. The Chamber of Notaries has noted that this rule has often been deviated from in the past.
The Land Registry uses an automated system, KIK. The discount notaries receive is directly related to this.
If a notary uses the KIK (Central Information System), they can save on Land Registry fees. For example, cancellations of old mortgage deeds can be submitted in a bundle. The notary then pays the current fee of €74 once, while this fee used to be charged to all homebuyers. For registering a mortgage and purchase deed, the notary pays €102 instead of the higher fee of €168. This means a homebuyer can easily overpay by more than €100 in notary fees.
The Dutch Homeowners' Association (VEH), the organization that represents the interests of homeowners, is raising the alarm about this issue. VEH believes that notaries have been charging excessive fees on a fairly large scale in recent years. Therefore, a standard letter has now been created that homeowners can use to inquire with their notary whether this was the case when they purchased their home. If so, they can reclaim the excess land registry fees.
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