Measures for Better Distinction Between Rental and Short Stay

Minister Mona Keijzer of Housing and Spatial Planning wants to amend rental law to clearly distinguish between residential rental contracts and tourist rentals (short stay). This strengthens the position of labor migrants, expats, and students in the housing market. The minister announces the changes today in a parliamentary letter. The measures will be consulted early 2026 and then submitted to the House of Representatives.

Short stay contracts are limited to 30 days, aligning with the maximum period for holiday rentals. Currently, the law does not limit the duration. Labor migrants, expats, and students are sometimes offered short stay contracts, often paying more than allowed under rental law. Landlords can also terminate a short stay contract at any time. This disrupts the rental market and makes it harder for all housing seekers to find affordable housing. The 30-day maximum also makes it easier for municipalities to monitor proper use of the rules.

Additionally, labor migrants will have the option to enter into a temporary rental contract, as a permanent contract often does not suit their temporary living situation. The minister also wants temporary contracts to be extendable once in the future, with a maximum total duration of two years.

Temporary rental contracts are protected by rental laws. Rent prices are regulated and landlords cannot terminate contracts arbitrarily. Short stay remains an option for labor migrants needing accommodation for up to 30 days, for example during the harvest season.

“These measures give labor migrants, expats, and students a better chance to find suitable housing,” says Minister Mona Keijzer. “By allowing temporary contracts for labor migrants, they can work and live here temporarily within rental protection rules. This gives landlords and employers more room to offer appropriate housing.”

Employers offering housing on their own premises will have the option to terminate a permanent rental contract when the agreement ends and the home is needed for a new employee. This should further encourage employers to provide housing to workers.

Temporary Rental Contract

Under the ministers proposal, a temporary rental contract may only be offered to a labor migrant if the housing meets the so-called Roemer standard. This means, among other things, that each resident has their own bedroom of at least 5.5 m², at least 15 m² of living space per person is available, and all facilities are under one roof. The housing must be certified for this purpose.

The measures are amendments to the Civil Code, the Good Landlord Act, and the Fixed Rental Contracts Act.