Finding a rental home in the Netherlands

The best-known sites are Funda and Pararius for flats and houses, Kamernet and Housing Anywhere for rooms and temporary housing, and the websites of housing associations via WoningNet and DirectWonen to apply for social housing.

• Subscribe to instant alerts on your phone, since good flats are rented within hours.
• Join local Facebook and Telegram groups, and tell friends and colleagues that you are searching, since many flats are rented through acquaintances.
• Register on housing association waiting lists early even if you do not need it now, since waiting may run for years and is counted from your registration time.
• And search in cheaper neighbouring towns with good transport.

Landlords usually ask for proof of income of at least three times the gross monthly rent, such as an employment contract and three months' payslips or an employer's statement (werkgeversverklaring), a copy of your passport or residence permit, and sometimes a self-introduction letter and references from a previous landlord.

• Prepare a digital PDF file ready to send as soon as you see a good advert.
• Write a short polite message in Dutch or English explaining who you are, your work and when you want to move.
• If your income is not enough, some places may accept a guarantor (garantsteller), or you can search for cheaper flats.

Fraud has spread because of the intense demand: fraudsters advertise a flat at a tempting price and ask for a deposit or advance rent transfer before viewing, and then disappear.

• The golden rule: do not pay any amount before you see the flat yourself and sign a written contract, and do not send complete copies of your passport or ID except to a landlord you have verified.
• Beware of a landlord who lives abroad and says he will post the keys.
• Verify the flat's ownership and address, and search for the same photos online.
• You are not asked for money for merely viewing or registering.
• Report any fraud to the police and the advertising platform.

If your income is low you may qualify for rent allowance (huurtoeslag) from the tax authority under conditions on income, rent and residence, requested through DigiD.

• Social housing has a maximum rent and strong protection.
• Under the Good Landlordship Act (Wet goed verhuurderschap) a landlord may not ask for a deposit (waarborgsom) of more than two months' rent nor unjustified agency fees from the tenant.
• The Rent Tribunal (Huurcommissie) handles disputes on price, defects and increases.
• Since 2024 the mid-price sector is limited by a maximum rent according to quality points.
• Learn your rights through the national tenants' union (Woonbond).

Before finding a flat you can rent a room or shared housing, a short-term furnished flat, or housing through your university or employer if provided.

• Check that the room can be registered with the municipality and that its price is within the legal limit, and read the contract carefully.
• In shared housing (woningdelen) rules on cleanliness and shared costs are set, so discuss them beforehand.
• Some large companies offer temporary housing or an allowance to new employees.
• Do not stay long in a room without registration, since you need the registered address for everything.
• And keep searching for a permanent place.

What is the maximum a deposit may be?