Purchase protection in The Hague, apply for permit

The purchase protection measure is in force in The Hague. If you buy a residential property with a property value (WOZ) of up to € 435,000, you are not allowed to rent it out. However, under certain conditions you will be able to get a permit or exemption to rent out the residential property.

Purchase protection blocks investors from buying up affordable housing in the city in order to rent it out to tenants. This way more homes are available for people who will live there themselves.

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

A property falls under 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 in the period before it was registered in the public registers (Kadaster). If the property was not rented out in the 6 months before it was registered in the public registers (Kadaster), then purchase protection applies.
  • The residential property has an official listed value (WOZ) of € 435,000 or less. The applicable property value is the value the residential property has when it is registered in the public registers (Kadaster). You can find the property value on the website Begin external link: wozwaardeloket.nl(External link), end external link..
Year of registration in Kadaster Property value
2022 € 355,000 or less
2023 € 405,000 or less
2024 € 435,000 or less

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 your property is registered in the public registers, you live in your new home for at least 1 year. After that you are allowed to rent out the property for a maximum of 1 year. 
  • The property is inseparably linked to a shop, office or business.

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

The person who will rent the property must have an Begin link: affordable housing permit, end link. .

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

Apply for permit for temporary rental (maximum of 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 a living space linked to a shop, office or business

(PDF, 96.0 KB)

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

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 cases:

  • Would you like to rent out a living space as part of the Housing plan for older and/or vulnerable people and status holders? Apply for an exemption by email to: Begin link: info.doorbraakplan@denhaag.nl, end link. . The municipality will then process your application.
  • Would you like to rent out an accommodation in a housing complex? Download the application form ‘Ontheffing voor het verhuren van een cluster van minimaal 10 woonruimten in 1 wooncomplex’. Fill in the form, print it and sign it. You can send the form by email to: Begin link: huisvesting@denhaag.nl, end link. . The municipality will then process your application.

Ontheffing voor het verhuren van een cluster van minimaal 10 woonruimten in 1 wooncomplex application form

(PDF, 100.0 KB)

€ 333.40. You must pay this amount even if you do not get the permit.

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.

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

  • Is your property part of 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 Begin link: Report your move, end link. .
  • Are you planning to rent a property? Then you sometimes need an affordable housing permit. Read more about how to Begin link: apply for an affordable housing permit, end link. .
  • Would you like to convert (change) a property into room rentals? Then you need a permit for this from the municipality. Read more about how to Begin link: apply for a permit to convert a property into room rentals, end link. .

Do you have any questions? Send an email to Begin link: huisvesting@denhaag.nl, end link. .

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