Landlords all over the country are trying to get round the ban on two-year rental housing contracts by passing their properties off as “short stay” apartments only open to expats, the AD reported on Friday.

The number of apartments offered with a short stay contract on housing websites such as Pararius has increased since the new rules were introduced and permanent contracts became standard, the AD said.

In Rotterdam, for example, ProperBee Vastgoed was using a disclaimer to discourage all but foreigners from applying for several properties, the AD said. All 11 properties on the website are currently “page not found“.

In Nijmegen, 120 apartments in the listed Canisiushof complex have been reserved for “exchange students, expats and working professionals who need short-term accommodation urgently”.

“If you are already living in – or around – Nijmegen, you probably do not meet the conditions to book this residence with a short-stay contract,” the website states.

The government abolished two-year rental contracts from July as one of several measures aimed at giving tenants more security.

Short stay apartments, which are fully furnished and offer additional services, can be rented out for a maximum of six months, but local councils and home owners associations can make their own rules. In Amsterdam, for example, short stay licences have been phased out.

GertJan Baker of tenants’ advice group Woon told Dutch News that cowboy landlords are attempting to get round the law. “Call it short stay and you can charge what you like, and you can avoid any rental protection,” he said. “We are going to need a few court cases to get clarity about what is allowed.”

Another trend which has emerged is that of designating apartments to be for “expats only”, the paper said.

Estate agent Michel van der Steen from Expat Residence in The Hague told the paper that many landlords state that they do not want Dutch tenants. “They are worried that Dutch people will stay in the property for too long, and that they will lose control of their property,” he said.

A number of properties on the company’s website are tagged “expats only”, in a way similar to the “no internationals” notes which confront foreign students.

In Dutch News’ survey on discrimination last year, housing was a major issue, despite the widespread view that “expats” have an advantage when it comes to renting property because they are thought to have more money.

Video

The Huurcommissie (rent tribunal) is currently looking into the case of an Italian national who rented a 34 square metre apartment in Amsterdam on a one year contract. He agreed to pay €1,850 a month for the flat, which is only worth €633 according to the point system.

The landlord went as far as to record a video of the tenant agreeing to the conditions in the contract – even though they may well be illegal.

Minister

The housing ministry said it recognises the problems which have arisen and that it is up to local authorities to enforce the rules on short stay housing. Housing minister Mona Keijzer is due to publish a first report into the impact of the new rental rules next month.

Dutch News is currently working on research for a longer article about rental housing and the international community. You are welcome to share your experiences.