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

If you get a residence permit, the

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

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.

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.

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

   Dutch population register (BRP)
   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.

1. The monthly rent.

2. The

   deposit
   (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.

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