Introduction to rental housing in Amsterdam
Finding a place to live in Amsterdam, Haarlem or one of the other historic cities in the west of the Netherlands ( “the Randstad” ) can be a challenge. However, with expert advice, patience and some research you can find your perfect home in a popular market. There are 2 basic possibilities, public housing (sociale huurwoningen) & private rentals (particuliere huurwoningen).
Public housing
To qualify for public housing one should register early since waiting lists often take many years. Also your income needs to be low. If you don’t qualify for public housing you should try your luck in the private sector.
Private rental accommodation
If you don’t qualify for social housing you should find a private rental. Browse the internet at “Marktplaats” , or other “classifieds”. Check out paper adds in the local supermarket or post an add yourself. Basically the market divides up like this: (basic rent)
- Independent houses from private landlords approx. 700-3500 euro’s
- Shared residences of private landlords approx . 350-650 euro’s*
- Independent houses of housing associations 700+ euro’s
Once you start searching real estate agents and housing sites beware. There are plenty money traps just collecting “subscriptors” without any chance for success. If you have nor time nor knowledge of the market it often is best to hire a real estate agent. Generally they charge you one month’s rent for commission.