Tilburg focuses on more housing and clarifies homestay rental policy

Tilburg wants to create more homes, improve student housing and make better use of existing homes. The updated rules for homestay rental fit well within that direction.

The municipality of Tilburg recently presented its new coalition agreement Aandacht. Ambitie. Actie. 2026–2030. Housing is once again high on the agenda. Tilburg aims to add an average of 2,000 homes per year in the coming years and around 35,000 homes by 2050.

At the same time, the municipality acknowledges that new construction alone will not be enough. The coalition agreement also states that Tilburg wants to make better use of its existing housing stock. This includes making it easier to split or extend homes, creating more room for student houses and improving the supply of student rooms.

In that context, the recent policy change around homestay rental is important. In the new Housing Regulation Tilburg 2026 and the accompanying Policy Rules Housing Regulation Tilburg 2026, the municipality more clearly defines when room rental requires a permit, and when homestay rental falls outside that permit requirement.

New homes and better use of existing homes

Tilburg is growing, and pressure on the housing market remains high. This affects not only families and first-time buyers, but also students and international housing seekers. In the coalition agreement, Tilburg is clearly positioned as a city of education and students. A good supply of student rooms is seen as an important basic condition for that role.

That is why it is positive that the municipality is not only looking at new construction, but also at ways to use existing homes more effectively. A spare room in a home where someone already lives can create additional housing relatively quickly. Homestay rental is not a replacement for new construction, but it can be a practical addition.

What has changed for homestay rental?

In Tilburg, a conversion permit may be required when an independent home is converted into non-self-contained rooms and three or more people live in the property. This applies, for example, to regular room rental, where a home is rented out room by room to multiple residents.

The new policy rules now state more clearly that homestay rental does not require a conversion permit, provided that certain conditions are met. Homestay rental is described as renting out non-self-contained living space in a home where the host also lives as the main resident, to a maximum of two people.

When is homestay rental allowed without a conversion permit?

According to the policy rules, homestay rental falls outside the conversion permit requirement if several conditions are met. The most important conditions are:

With this change, Tilburg makes a clearer distinction between larger-scale room rental and homestay rental: sharing a home with someone who also lives there.

Why does this matter?

For many residents, renting out a room can feel complicated, especially because local rules differ from one municipality to another. Is a permit needed? How many people are allowed to live in the home? And when does homestay rental become regular room rental?

By explicitly including homestay rental in the policy rules, Tilburg lowers the threshold for residents who have a spare room. This fits the broader direction of the coalition agreement: creating more housing, making better use of existing homes and taking student housing seriously.

For students and other housing seekers, this can make a real difference. Especially in a city where demand for rooms is high, a room with a local host can be a fast, social and small-scale housing solution.

Room rental rules still remain in place

The policy change does not mean that all forms of room rental are now freely allowed. Tilburg continues to regulate situations in which independent homes are converted into room rental properties, especially when three or more people live in the home.

This allows the municipality to keep control over liveability in neighbourhoods, while creating more space for small-scale homestay rental. That is an important balance: protecting where necessary, and enabling where possible.

For more background on the difference between homestay rental and regular room rental, read our earlier article about homestay rental and room rental in Tilburg.

Want to know more about homestay rental in Tilburg?

Do you want to know what these rules mean for your situation? Read our FAQ article about the rules for homestay rental in Tilburg.

At Hospi Housing, we help hosts and tenants with clear information, safe contracts and guidance when renting out a room at home. Sign up for free.