Accomodation

Finding a small piece of home

Housing

Finding accomodation in The Netherlands can be difficult especially in larger cities. Overall, 43% of accommodation is privately owned and 57% is rented. Houses make up 70% of all dwellings (63% are private and 37% are rented) compared to 30% apartments. The urbanisation degree is 90%.There is an average housing shortage of 100.000 houses.
You can look for a suitable property by yourself but there is also the possibility of commissioning a specialised estate agent with a specific list of demands. This obviously also applies when your preference goes out to buying.

Buying a House

In Netherlands it is possible to get 100% finance support by getting a mortgage from a bank or other institutions. The only requirement is a permanent work contract and thn the maximum amount of the loan is decided by the annual salary (about 3-4 times the annual bruto salary). Acquiring a mortgage is a difficult task giving the multitude of possibilities. The best way it to get the support of a mortgage advisor. Usually the support is free in the hope that you will continue the buying of the house. Brochures with information can be found at banks and other organizations.

The advantage of getting a mortgage for a house compared to renting a place is major. First your accommodation becomes an investment which you will own after you have paid the full mortgage. Secondly, the interest of the loan taken by the bank is tax free so a the end of the fiscal year you can actually get a large amount of the taxes paid during the year back (renteaftrekbaarheid).

Renting a House

Anybody in need of housing in Holland can register with housing associations. Although you will not be offered a residence immediately, your chances will improve the longer you are register. You must pay a fee to register. The dwellings for witch you are eligible depend on your family size and income. You can also try to find a home through individual homeowners or real estate agents.

Links

Housing Holland (in English)

NVM (in Dutch)

Eigen Huis (in Dutch)

Koop Woning (in Dutch)