Room rental in Rotterdam: can you just do that? These are the rules

Living in or around Rotterdam and thinking about renting out one (or more) room(s) in your house? Here are the room rental rules in Rotterdam.

Rotterdam, not only the second-largest city in the Netherlands, but also a bustling port city with a modern and cosmopolitan character. It is known for its iconic architecture, modern bridges, and cultural diversity. Rotterdam is also an important attraction for students: it houses prestigious educational institutions like the Erasmus University Rotterdam, Rotterdam University of Applied Sciences, and Codarts Rotterdam, thus having a thriving student community. Add to that the coolest Rotterdam hotspots and a plethora of (cultural) activities, and the result is a city that attracts young students like a magnet.

Unfortunately, that popularity also comes with a price tag: like many other student cities, Rotterdam is faced with a significant shortage of affordable student rooms. Room rental is fortunately a beautiful way for both tenants and landlords to address that problem.

More and more people are choosing to rent out a room in their house to a (international) student. This not only provides extra income, but also gives many a sense of fulfillment: they offer a warm welcome and bring in some coziness to the house. But is it allowed to rent out a room in your house just like that? In this blog post, we delve into the rules of room rental in Rotterdam.

Renting rooms outside Rotterdam: peace and greenery aren't so bad after all

If you live (just) outside Rotterdam, you might wonder if it makes sense to engage in room rental and register as a host. After all, don't most students want to live right in the city center?

On the contrary: more and more students are opting for the peace and nature outside the city. For this reason, many choose to find a room in areas near Rotterdam, such as Schiedam, Capelle aan den IJssel, Spijkenisse, Dordrecht, and Vlaardingen. They benefit from peace and greenery, while with excellent public transport (or by bike) they are often quickly in the vibrant center of Rotterdam. Room rental around the city provides a nice balance between studying in the city and enjoying peace outside the city limits.

Rules concerning room rental in Rotterdam

In Rotterdam, the municipality is doing everything it can to reduce the room shortage. For this reason, the rules concerning room rental are quite lenient - unlike regular room rental:

In Rotterdam, you don't need a permit if you live in the property and rent out a space to a maximum of one person or if you don't live in the property and rent out a space to a maximum of two people.

You can find more information about the rules on the website of the municipality of Rotterdam. With these lenient rules, Rotterdam also shows that they want to promote room rental.

3 reasons people choose room rental

If you're still not entirely convinced about why you should rent out a room in your house, here are a few of the main reasons our hosts choose room rental:

1. You open yourself to new insights

By renting a room to an (international) student, you broaden your horizons. You might learn about exciting new cultures and languages. Prefer speaking in Dutch? No problem. You can simply indicate that in your profile. There might even be a foreign student eager to learn Dutch from you.

2. You offer students a warm welcome

As a landlord, you can be an invaluable support for students coming to Rotterdam for the first time, trying to find their way in an unfamiliar city. You provide them with a safe and cozy environment, so they don't have to worry about that. They can focus their energy on student life and the academic challenges that come with it. A hospitable home can make a difference: especially when you're far from home as a student and sometimes feel lonely or overwhelmed.

3. You're not tied down

Many think room rental is complicated and that you have to sign a contract for everything. That's not the case. The first 9 months of room rental are considered a trial period. During this time, you can terminate the contract at any time with a minimum notice period of 3 months. This way, you can easily test if room rental is for you. Read more about it in this article about room rental rules.

Would you like to rent out a room in your house to a student and enrich your life? Great! Sign up here as a host. Registration is free and you're not committing to anything. We guide and support you step by step through the entire room rental process, allowing you to start this new experience without any worries. If you have any questions beforehand, check out our frequently asked questions or contact us. We're here to help!