Two years ago I left The Netherlands to move to the Dutch Antilles with a problem.
The last house I had lived in, a luxurous gentleman's house, turned out to be unsuitable for living. Unsuitable because the city had appointed it to be an office and not a house to live in. Government regulations are very strict when it comes down to that.
Feeling that I had been taken by the company that rented out the house since they knew all along I refused to pay the last few months rent. After all I was forced to move and spend money on redecorating. They sued me over that. When I found out that the safety of the house was not garanteed when a fire would break out I countersued and demanded 1.5 years of rent back.
I have been through 4 lawyers of which all but the last one told me to give up because I would never win the case. Also there was jurispredence on my neighbours losing the case. I continued though and invested a LOT of time to prove that the owners off the house knew all along.
Today I received an email from my lawyer telling me that the judge has spoken and I have won the case in full!!! The contract has been declared invalid since I signed for a house to live in and it has been an "office" all the time.
Not only do I get back all the rent I paid but I will get money for expenses and damages.
I am sure that if I would have listened to the first few lawyers and given up I would have made more with the time I invested in the case. It feels so worth it though to see justice prevail.....
