The Dutch rental market is undergoing significant changes. In recent months, several developments have been announced that directly affect both landlords and tenants. From new rent increases to changes in the law: 2026 will be a pivotal year for everyone involved in the rental market. In this blog, we explain what’s happening and what it means for you.
📈 Rent Increase Effective July 1, 2026
Effective July 1, 2026, new maximum rent increases will apply:
• Social housing: maximum 4.1%
• Mid-range housing: maximum 6.1% (provided contractually permitted)
• Private sector: maximum 4.4%
Previously, there was discussion of a possible rent freeze, but this plan has since been withdrawn. This means that landlords may once again adjust rents within the legal framework.
For tenants, this often means an increase in monthly expenses.
For landlords, it provides some leeway to partially offset rising costs.
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⚖️ Amendments to the Affordable Rent Act
In addition to rent increases, the new Minister of Housing is working on amendments to the Affordable Rent Act, which were announced in April 2026.
This law uses a points system to determine the maximum rent a home may cost. Since its introduction, many homes, especially in the mid-range segment, have fallen under regulation.
But in practice, we see that this also has consequences for the market:
• landlords are becoming more selective
• some homes are disappearing from the rental market
• supply is decreasing
The government is therefore investigating how the Act can be amended to restore the balance between affordability and availability.
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📉 Less supply, but more demand
And that is precisely what is creating a striking situation:
👉 The supply of rental housing is declining
👉 Demand for rental housing continues to rise
Particularly in regions such as Amsterdam, Hoorn, and West Friesland, we are seeing an increase in demand from companies and international workers.
More and more organizations are recruiting staff from abroad, such as:
• IT specialists
• engineers
• consultants
• project teams
And all these professionals need one thing: good, temporary housing.
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🌍 International rental market continues to grow
Demand for furnished and move-in-ready homes, in particular, is growing strongly.
Expats and international professionals are looking for:
• immediately available homes
• flexible lease terms
• prime locations with public transit access
• a reliable rental process
The reality is that many of these homes don’t even appear online but are rented out directly through networks of real estate agents, HR departments, and relocation agencies.
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🔑 What does this mean for landlords?
The current market offers opportunities, provided you know how to navigate it.
For landlords, this means:
✔️ higher demand for quality homes
✔️ opportunities in the expat and international market
✔️ faster rentals with the right positioning
✔️ the importance of good guidance and knowledge of regulations
At the same time, changing legislation makes it more important than ever to be well-informed.
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🤝 The Role of Haring Vastgoed
At Haring Vastgoed, we are right at the intersection of these trends.
With years of experience in the rental market, we work daily with:
✔ expats and international professionals
✔ companies and multinationals in the region
✔ landlords who want to rent out their property hassle-free
Thanks to our network, we can often quickly match the right tenant with the right property, with professional screening and a smooth rental process.
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📩 What does this mean for you?
Whether you’re a landlord or looking for a place to live, the market is changing rapidly.
That’s why it’s important to make the right choices.
👉 Do you have a property you want to rent out and want to arrange this properly and hassle-free?
👉 Or are you coming to the Netherlands to work and looking for suitable housing?
📩 Feel free to contact us.
With our experience and network, we’ll find the right match, often faster than you expect.
