The Hague eases housing rules to tackle shortage and high costs
From April 1, 2026, The Hague will relax rules on home splitting, room rentals, and lodging rentals to create more affordable housing. Residents struggling with high costs or unsuitable homes could soon find better options as the city aims to boost its housing supply quickly.
| Key Change | Details |
|---|---|
| Home Splitting | Allowed in more neighborhoods where livability is good. |
| Room Rentals | Permit still required for >2 people, but allowed in more areas. Max rooms per neighborhood increases from 5% to 10%. |
| Lodging Rentals | Hosts can rent to >1 person without a permit if tenants form a single household or two single-person households. Reporting to municipality required. |
| Effective Date | April 1, 2026 |
| Impact | Aims to quickly increase affordable housing options in The Hague. |
The Municipality of The Hague is responsible for local housing policy, including regulations on home splitting, rentals, and permits. These adjustments reflect its role in addressing housing shortages and ensuring livable, affordable options for residents.
Read the full translated article below
New rules for room rental, lodging rentals and home splitting
New rules for housing in The Hague will come into effect on April 1, 2026. Splitting homes, room rentals and lodging rentals will become easier. This will quickly increase the number of affordable homes in the city, helping more people find suitable housing.
The Hague faces a severe housing shortage, and many residents struggle with high housing costs. To address this, the municipality is adjusting the rules to create more affordable housing options quickly.
Splitting homes
Starting April 1, residents with their own homes in more neighborhoods in The Hague will be allowed to divide their home into two or more independent units. Since 2019, this was largely prohibited, but now it will be permitted in areas where neighborhood livability is good.
Room rentals
Renting out rooms will become easier. While a permit is still required for renting to more than two people, this will now be allowed in many more neighborhoods. The maximum percentage of rooms that can be rented per neighborhood will increase from 5% to 10%.
Lodging rentals
In lodging rentals, the landlord (host) also lives in the home. Starting April 1, hosts will be allowed to rent out living space to more than one person without a permit, provided the tenants form a single household or consist of two single-person households. Hosts must still report this to the municipality.
Suitable housing for everyone
Many people do not live in homes that suit their needs. For example, young adults often stay with their parents because they cannot find their own place. Homeless individuals spend too long in emergency shelters, and seniors struggle to find senior-friendly housing. These new rules will quickly add more housing options, allowing people to move into homes that better fit their needs.
Housing ordinance
The new rules are outlined in the housing ordinance, which contains all municipal rules on housing. This includes guidelines on:
- how to apply for housing allocation
- which permits are required for renovations
- rules for tourist rentals, such as Airbnb
The Housing Stock Memo explains why these new rules are necessary and how they will increase the number of available homes.