Rental property in Amsterdam

Renting in the private sector

The most common option is to rent property in the private sector. Private rental accommodation is not subsidised and there are no pre-conditions as to your eligibility. In most cases, however, you will need a residence permit. While the rents are likely to be more expensive than with public housing, the likelihood of finding a place quickly is far greater.

To help get you on the rental property ladder, we suggest you try:

• Rooftrack: Rooftrack is an intiative of WoningNet and offers a wide range of available properties in the non-subsidised rental market. Rooftrack's website displays properties from both housing corporations as well as professional property managment firms. The website is free of charge and available in English.
  

• Specialised letting agencies (verhuurbureaus). Always check that your agency has a licence from the municipal authorities.

• Online housing sites: In Dutch - Kamerspagina, Kamernet, Funda and Marktplaats.

• Estate agents (makelaars). Note: some may ask you for an employment contract as proof that you can afford rent. Addresses can be found in the Gouden Gids (Yellow Pages). Find one you trust or go by recommendation.

• Empty property. If you’ve seen a house that’s been empty for a long period, you can write to the Kadaster (Land Registry) to ask for the owner’s name.

• Expat forums on the internet: Elynx and Expatica Housing.

In the private sector landlords usually ask for a deposit, which is usually the equivalent of one or two months’ rent. As for contracts, tenancy agreements can be concluded for fixed periods of time and changed at the discretion of the tenant (or landlord, depending on the circumstances). You should therefore read your tenancy agreement carefully. For example, if you want a house or apartment for six months, do not sign an agreement for a year.

Rental in the social sector

The Netherlands has the biggest public housing sector in Europe, the majority of which is owned by private, non-profit housing associations. These rental dwellings are primarily aimed at lower income groups, with a maximum rent capped by law.

However, with a waiting list of between 5-10 years, social housing is not a favourable option for most expats. You also have to meet strict criteria:

To be eligible for social housing, you must:

• Have a housing permit (woonvergunning). The landlord will apply for this permit for you. You will have to satisfy certain conditions, one being that your monthly income is below a certain level.

• Be in the municipality where you are looking for housing, for instance that you work there. The landlord will only obtain a housing permit for you if you satisfy all the stipulated conditions.

• Register with WoningNet. Rental property in Amsterdam is advertised every two weeks in WoningNet.nl, a free magazine and available online.

Useful links

• For more information on finding a room, visit Huuders. For general information on housing, visit Wonen (Amsterdam City Housing Department) or NVM (Dutch Association of estate agents).

Related topics

Buying property in Amsterdam

Housing Rights

Amsterdam city districts & neighbourhood profiles