adOct 7, 2026, 05:00

High rents drive away candidates: private sector homes stay online longer

Rental interest in the Netherlands has dropped significantly as rising prices and decreasing housing supply make finding a home more difficult. Landlords are increasingly selling their properties due to legislative changes and higher taxes, leading to a rental shortage that Pararius warns could take decades to address.

The interest in private rental sector housing in the Netherlands has significantly declined, with the number of responses per listing dropping by 42.5 percent compared to last year. According to the Pararius rental monitor, properties now sit online for longer periods as high rental prices discourage potential tenants. This trend is driven by an average price increase of 4.4 percent per square meter, which has outpaced both inflation and home purchase price growth. Furthermore, the supply of rental properties has shrunk as many landlords choose to sell their assets due to increased tax burdens and the introduction of the Affordable Rent Act. Since the implementation of these regulations, over 76,000 rental properties have been removed from the market. While this shift has benefited some homebuyers, Pararius director Jasper de Groot warns that the legislation is counterproductive, leading to a severe shortage of rental housing that will take decades to recover. Major cities like Amsterdam and Haarlem remain the most expensive areas for renters.

Economy Business Amsterdam Haarlem Netherlands

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Based on reporting by ad. Translated and condensed by LocalHeadlines.

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