Rental permits and buy-to-let restrictions: what can your municipality require?
Renting out property in the Netherlands is no longer just a matter between you and your tenant. Since the Good Landlordship Act (Wet goed verhuurderschap) and the buy-to-let protection rules (opkoopbescherming), municipalities have powerful instruments to regulate the local rental market. The rules differ per municipality — sometimes even per neighbourhood.
Good Landlordship Act
This act sets national conduct rules for all landlords: no discrimination or intimidation, a deposit of at most two months' base rent, a written rental contract and clear information about the tenant's rights. Service charges must be cost-based and itemised.
On top of that, municipalities may require a rental permit (verhuurvergunning) in designated areas. The permit can impose requirements on maintenance and, in the regulated segment, on the maximum rent. Letting without a permit where one is required can lead to substantial fines.
Buy-to-let protection (opkoopbescherming)
Many larger municipalities apply buy-to-let protection to cheaper and mid-priced homes: whoever buys such a home must, in principle, live in it themselves (self-occupancy requirement), usually for four years. Letting is only allowed with an exemption — for instance for renting to family or during a temporary stay abroad.
If you're buying a property to let, check before purchase whether buy-to-let protection applies to that address. The WOZ value threshold and exact rules vary per municipality.
Tourist rentals
For short-term rentals (Airbnb, Booking) many municipalities require registration: you need a registration number that must appear in every listing. Municipalities also often apply a night cap (for example a maximum of 30 nights per year in Amsterdam), a per-rental notification duty and sometimes a separate permit.
Practical checklist
- Check your municipality's website to see whether your address is in a permit zone.
- Buying to let? Verify buy-to-let protection before you bid.
- Short-term letting? Obtain the registration number and track your nights.
- Keep permits and registrations with your property records — you must be able to produce them.
In Lentano you store permits and registration documents per property, so you can find them instantly during an inspection.
Note: this is general information. Rules differ per municipality and change regularly — always consult your municipality's current rules.