Renting out your property: the new 2024 rules

2024 brought real change to the Dutch housing market. On 1 July 2024 the Fixed Rental Contracts Act (Wet vaste huurcontracten) took effect, tightening the rules on temporary contracts to give tenants more security. The same day, the Affordable Rent Act (Wet betaalbare huur) came into force, regulating prices in the mid-rental segment.

So can you still rent your apartment to internationals? Yes. You just need to work with the new rules rather than around them. Below we walk through the two changes that matter most:

1. A ban on temporary rental contracts, under the Fixed Rental Contracts Act.
2. An expansion of the home valuation (points) system, under the Affordable Rent Act.

The ban on temporary rental contracts

In November 2023, parliament approved the Fixed Rental Contracts Act, which prohibits temporary rental contracts for homes apart from a few exceptions. The rules took effect on 1 July 2024.

Temporary contracts before 1 July 2024

Until 1 July 2024 you could sign a temporary contract for up to 24 months. That suited landlords who wanted certainty of regaining access to their house, studio or apartment once the term ended. Because the arrangement left tenants with too little security, the law was changed. Contracts signed before 1 July 2024 stay valid for their agreed term, but once such a contract ends, or a tenant leaves, you cannot sign a new temporary contract.

Temporary contracts from 1 July 2024

From 1 July, offering a temporary contract is no longer possible in the vast majority of cases. You now rent out a home either through a permanent lease or through a so-called interim contract. The interim contract is meant for landlords who live abroad for a set period to study, work or travel, and who return to the property afterwards. If you do not plan to move back in for a longer stretch after the rental ends, this contract is not for you. To compare the options, read the different types of rental contract, and see our overview of the temporary rental rules.

At Balatin we match verified international tenants to your home and handle the legwork around it. Get in touch and we will explain how the selection works, or list your property to get started.

The expanded home valuation (points) system

The expansion of the home valuation system through the Affordable Rent Act made headlines for much of the past year. The Senate approved the bill on 25 June 2024, and the law took effect on 1 July 2024. For landlords, it means a new set of rules to weigh when setting a rent.

The points system before 1 July 2024

The home valuation system awards points to a property. Until 1 July 2024, homes scoring up to 143 points could only be let as social housing. Above that limit, a home could be let in the private sector and the rent was unregulated.

The points system from 1 July 2024

The Affordable Rent Act expanded the system from 144 to 186 points, equal to €1,184.82 per month at the 2025 price level. This expansion caps rents in the mid-rental segment. In practice, homes scoring 144 to 186 points now have a regulated rent. If your home falls into that band, it can have a significant effect on the rent you are allowed to ask.

The way points are awarded also changed. The energy label now counts for more: a high label earns extra points, while a low label costs you points. Outdoor space, for instance, also carries more weight than before.

Other rules to keep in mind

There are further rules and obligations that come with renting out a home. For the wider picture, read our guide on the rules for renting out your property. If you would rather get advice tailored to your situation, contact Balatin and we will work through your questions.

The rental market keeps moving. Balatin tracks the changes so you do not have to, and we can take the legal and administrative weight off your hands. When you are ready, list your property and we will guide you through the new rules from the first viewing to the signed lease.