Tenants can now also claim same mental health damages from Groningen earthquakes

From now on, tenants, children, and unmarried partners can apply for compensation for immaterial damages suffered from the Groningen gas extraction earthquakes under the same rules as homeowners. Until now, non-homeowners could only claim half the damage that homeowners could, and often had to wait longer for their claim to be settled, RTV Noord reported.

The government has long acknowledged that damages from the earthquakes caused by gas extraction in the Groningen province go beyond cracks in walls. To help compensate for the suffering caused by anxiety about your family’s safety, the hopelessness of being stuck in a bureaucratic quagmire, and despair from being forced to move to a different neighborhood, for example, Groningen residents can claim financial compensation for mental anguish through the Mining Damage Institute Groningen (IMG).

Those who meet the requirements can receive compensation of between €1,500 and €5,00, depending on several factors including the extent of the damage, the duration of the claim procedure, and the safety of their home. Until now, homeowners qualified for compensation under less strict rules than non-homeowners. As a result, non-homeowners like tenants, minor children living in the home, and unmarried partners often received lower compensation and had to wait longer before their claims were handled.

The IMG has now lifted the distinction between the two groups. “The rationale behind this expansion is that non-homeowners can experience the same degree of suffering and grief as homeowners,” the IMG said, according to RTV Noord.

All non-homeowners who have previously applied may still be entitled to compensation or additional compensation due to this change. They can submit a follow-up application provided that their previous decision is at least six months old and they received less than the full €5,000 in compensation. Pending applications and objections will automatically be assessed based on the new rules.