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How do you find and rent a home in the Netherlands?

Last updated: 07/10/2025, 07:09

If you have a temporary residence permit, you can rent a home in the Netherlands. But it is important to know the rules. This article will help you with all the information you need, from the types of homes to the documents you need.

First home via the municipality

If you get a residence permit, the

will arrange your first home together with a municipality. You will be paired with a municipality and they will be responsible for finding a home for you. You then move from the reception location into that home.

If you find a rental property or room independently, you must report this. For example, if you have refused a home offered by the municipality or if you want to live in another municipality. Report your move to COA and to your new municipality. If you do not do this, the municipality will not know that you have moved. As a result, you cannot be called for the intake and the

. This is mandatory and can cause problems.

If you move out of a COA location and you deregister from there, and if you no longer report to a COA location on a weekly basis, your right to a place to sleep lapses. So if you have a temporary rental contract or move in with someone and this does not go well, you could end up having to live on the streets. You will then also no longer be offered a home in the previous municipality of the COA location where you were.

The Netherlands has 2 types of rental housing: social rental housing and rental housing in the free sector.

Social rental housing

  • These homes are for people with lower incomes.

  • The rent is lower, but the waiting lists are very long, sometimes years.

  • To qualify, your annual income must be below a certain limit.

  • These homes are distributed by

    in each municipality.

Income limit for social rental housing

To get social rental housing, you must not earn too much. Every year, the government sets the

. Housing associations must adhere to this limit.

For 2025, the rules are:

Single person: Your gross annual income must not exceed €49,669. Two or more persons in your household: Your joint gross annual income must not exceed €54,847.

This income is your total income known to the

. Housing associations check this. You must therefore provide an
from the Dutch tax authorities when you apply for a home. This is how the government makes sure the cheap homes go to people with low incomes.

Urgent declaration: a house faster?

For people with a very serious problem, due to medical reasons or divorce, there is sometimes the urgency declaration. With an urgency declaration, you get priority for social rental housing and have to wait less. Filing an application is difficult and only possible in case of major, serious problems. You cannot make this application independently.

When and when not?

  • Urgency: You have a serious problem that you cannot do anything about yourself. For example, if your home is unsafe due to violence or if you can no longer live in your home due to a medical reason.

  • No urgency: You will not get urgency if your situation is not serious enough. For example, if you would rather live somewhere else, your house is too small or you can no longer pay the rent. Also, in case of a divorce, you only get urgency if there are minor children involved.

These are homes owned by private individuals or real estate agents. The rent can be much higher than in the social rental sector, but you can find a house faster. Landlords often ask for proof of income.

Rent allowance: Financial help with renting

If your rent is not too high and your income is low, you may be able to receive rent allowance. This is an amount of money from the government that helps with paying the rent. The amount of rent allowance depends on your income, the rent and the make-up of your family. You can apply for rent allowance for both social rental housing and private sector rental housing.

Important steps when renting a home

Looking for a home

You can search online on websites such as Funda, Kamernet and Pararius. For social rental housing, you must register with your municipality's housing system (e.g. WoningNet)

Required documents

When you apply for a house, you need these documents:

  1. A copy of your passport or valid residence permit.

  2. Proof of income (such as your pay slips from the last 3 months).

  3. An extract from the

    of the municipality.

  4. Sometimes the landlord asks for a recommendation from your previous landlord.

The rental contract Read your contract carefully before you sign it. There is more information about the rental contract on this government page.

The contract should be clear regarding:

  1. The monthly rent.

  2. The

    (an amount you get back when you leave).

  3. The duration of the contract (definite or indefinite).

  4. Who is responsible for maintaining the home.

Registering with the municipality

If you have a home, you must register with the municipality where you want to live.

Your rights and obligations as a tenant

As a tenant, you have rights that Dutch law protects:

  • Rent increase: The rules for an annual rent increase are strict. The landlord may not just raise the rent.

  • Protection from eviction: You cannot just be evicted from your home. The landlord must follow strict legal procedures to terminate the contract.

  • Home maintenance: The responsibility for maintenance is divided between you and the landlord. You are responsible for minor repairs, the landlord for major repairs.

If you are having problems with your landlord, you can contact the

for help. You can also contact Woonbond for questions about your rights as a tenant.

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