Rental rules in the Netherlands: know before you let
Rental rules in the Netherlands for 2026 in one place: rent limits, WWS points, rent increases, deposits and permits, each with its source and start date.
Pick your situation.
I'm about to rent out a home
Sort out permission, rent level, contract and deposit in the right order, from first plan to move-in day.
Go to the landlord rules2I rent and want to check
See whether your rent, deposit or rent increase is allowed, and when the Huurcommissie can help.
Go to the tenant guide3I want to compare rent sectors
Put social rent, mid-rent and the free sector side by side, with the limits that apply in 2026.
Compare the rent sectorsWhy has renting out become so much harder since 2023?
Three laws rewrote the rules for landlords within a year: the Good Landlordship Act (Wet goed verhuurderschap, 1 July 2023), the Permanent Leases Act and the Affordable Rent Act (Wet betaalbare huur), both from 1 July 2024. On top of that, your municipality sets its own rules on permits, room rental and holiday rental.
Private landlords feel it. According to CBS, individuals owned 529,000 rental homes on 1 January 2025, 22,000 fewer than a year earlier.
The Kadaster counted 65,000 homes sold by investors in 2025, against 27,000 they bought.
What will you find on Verhuurregels.pro?
You get the rules for renting out a home in the Netherlands, topic by topic, with the official source and the date each rule applies from. Plans that are not yet in force are marked as plans, with their current status.
Verhuurregels.pro is an independent guide. We are not a law firm, a municipality or the Huurcommissie. Before you decide about your own home, check the source or get personal advice.
How do you approach renting out in three steps?
- Find the rent sector. Count the WWS points. In 2026 a home is social rent up to 143 points, mid-rent from 144 to 186 points and free sector from 187 points.
- Choose the lease and deposit. Offer an open-ended lease unless the tenant belongs to an exception group. Ask for at most two months’ bare rent as a deposit.
- Check your municipality. Find out whether you need a rental permit, whether buy-to-let protection applies and which rules cover room or holiday rental.
Where should you start?
Start with the overview of all rental rules, which lists every topic from deposits to tax.
To find your maximum rent first, read how the Affordable Rent Act and WWS points set that limit together.
Who writes Verhuurregels.pro?
The Verhuurregels.pro editorial team works from official sources: the Dutch government (Rijksoverheid), Volkshuisvesting Nederland, the Huurcommissie, the Belastingdienst and municipal websites. Our editorial policy explains how we pick sources, check figures and handle corrections.
What landlords want to know first.
What is the purpose of this website?
The rules for renting out a home in the Netherlands: good landlord law, the Affordable Rent Act, WWS points, rent increases, deposits, permits and local municipal rules.
Is the information personal advice?
No. Use it as general guidance and confirm important decisions with qualified sources or professionals.