Purchase protection in The Hague, apply for rental permit

The municipality is introducing new regulations on buying property. As of 1 March 2022 buyers of houses and apartments in The Hague with an official listed value (WOZ) of up to € 405,000 will not be allowed to rent out the property. However, under certain conditions buyers may still be able to get a permit to rent out the residential property.

The new rule is meant to protect the housing market from investors and property developers. The aim is to give people looking to buy affordable housing to live in the home themselves a better chance. They will face less competition from investors who are buying up properties with the aim of leasing them to tenants.

There are exceptions to the so-called purchase protection. Under certain conditions you can still get a permit to rent out your property. However, if you rent out a property without a permit, you can get a fine of € 10,000 or more. Fines can increase to as much as € 40,000 per violation.

How does it work?

    A property comes under the purchase protection if:

    • The property changes ownership on or after 1 March 2022. Note: this is the date of registration in the public registers (Kadaster).
    • The property was rented out for less than 6 months prior to the purchase.
    • The residential property has an official listed value (WOZ) of € 405,000 or less.
      The applicable property value is the value the residential property had on the date of registration in the public registers (Kadaster). You can find the property value on the website wozwaardeloket.nl.

    Conditions for the permit

    To get a permit to rent out your apartment or house the following conditions apply:

    • You are renting out a property to a first or second degree family member. This includes parents, children, brothers and sisters.
    • After registering your property in the public registers, you live in your new home for at least 1 year. You may subsequently rent out the property for a maximum of 1 year. 
    • The property is inseparably linked to a shop, office or business.

    The permit only applies to you and only for the address in the permit application.

    Belangrijke informatie: The person who will rent the property must have an affordable housing permit.

    Apply for the permit

    Only the owner of the property can apply for a permit. The applications are in Dutch.

    Apply for permit for temporary rental (max. 1 year) (PDF, 89,3 kB)
    Apply for a permit to rent to a 1st or 2nd degree family member (PDF, 117,5 kB)
    Apply for a permit to rent out living space which is inseparably linked to a shop, office or business (PDF, 96 kB)

    Fill in the correct permit application form, print it and sign it. You can send the form by email to huisvesting@denhaag.nl. The municipality will then process your application.

    Conditions for exemption

    There are exceptions to the ban on renting out a newly purchased property without a permit. Under certain conditions you can apply for official permission to rent out a newly purchased property without a permit. This is called an exemption.

    The municipality will grant an exemption in these 4 cases:

    • The newly purchased living space is owned or managed by a housing association.
    • The newly purchased living space is owned or managed by the Centrale Vastgoedorganisatie Den Haag.
    • The living space will be rented out as housing for older and/or vulnerable people and for status holders. This applies to living space which will be rented out in the social housing segment, below the rental price limit.
    • There is a cluster of at least 10 living spaces in 1 housing complex. The cluster of at least 10 living spaces will be transferred at the same time from 1 owner to 1 subsequent (new) owner.

    Apply for exemption

    Would you like to apply for an exemption to the rental ban? Send an email to huisvesting@denhaag.nl. The municipality will then process your application.

    Fees

    € 319.90. These fees will not be refunded if the municipality rejects your application for the permit.

    How long does it take?

    Your application can take 8 weeks for processing. This processing time can be extended 1 time by 6 weeks. This period starts when the municipality receives your complete application. You may only rent out the residential property once the permit is granted.

    Report wrongdoing

    The Hague Housing Inspection Bureau (Haagse Pandbrigade) is enforcing the purchase protection rules. It checks whether owners, tenants and landlords of buildings and properties are complying with the regulations. If you would like to report illegal housing or use of a building, you can do this through The Hague Housing Inspection Bureau.

    Good to know

    • Does your property fall under a homeowners association (Vereniging van Eigenaren, VvE)? Then first check whether you are allowed to rent out your property. Sometimes the VvE has to give permission for this.
    • Make sure that your address is recorded correctly in the Personal Records Database (BRP). You can check this in MijnDenHaag. Have you moved or is your current address not registered at the municipality? Notify the municipality before you submit the application via the page Report your move.
    • Are you planning to rent a property? Then you sometimes need an affordable housing permit. Read more about applying for an affordable housing permit.
    • Would you like to convert (change) a property into room rentals? Then you need a permit for this from the municipality. Read more about applying for a permit to convert a property into room rentals.

    More information

    The purchase protection measure falls under the Housing Act. More extensive information can be found in the Nota voorraadbeleid Den Haag 2021 (RIS311091).

    Contact

    Do you have any questions? Send an email to huisvesting@denhaag.nl.