Help with housing

You can get help with housing from the government if there are problems with your home or landlord. 

Finding temporary accommodation 

If you come to work in the Netherlands, you can usually rent a house, room or other accommodation. Often, your employer or employment agency will arrange this for you. You can also search for accommodation yourself. You can ask private landlords or organisations to help you with your search.  

If you want to stay in the Netherlands for longer, you can register with a housing association. Bear in mind that you have to meet income requirements and sometimes wait a long time before a house becomes available. You have to respond yourself to offers of vacant accommodation. This means that you will not automatically be offered a house. 

Help with housing 

If you live and rent in the Netherlands, you can get help with problems with your home. The government can help you if your home is unsafe or if you are experiencing nuisance from your landlord or neighbours. You can also get advice if something in the house is broken. 

Report nuisance and danger 

If you are bothered by loud noises, foul smells or fire hazards, you can report this to your landlord or housing association. In an emergency, call 112. That is the emergency number of the Netherlands. The police, fire brigade or ambulance will then come. The government wants you to live safely. 

Problems with the landlord 

If your landlord is harrassing you, or discriminating against you, or threatening you, seek help from a hotline of the municipality. They can warn or punish your landlord. The municipality can also refer you to a rent team, the Huurcommissie, an anti-discrimination service (ADV) or Het Juridisch Loket. If you have a dispute about money or damage, you can get free advice from Het Juridisch Loket. 

Emergency numbers and information card 

If you live in a house with an SNF certificate, there will be an information card in the house with a list of the phone numbers you can call in case of an emergency. The card is in your language. If there is no card, and there is a dangerous situation, call 112.