What can the Netherlands learn from neighbouring countries?

Knowledge center Platform31, has explores what the Netherlands can learn from neighbouring countries when it comes to homestay renting. You read all about it in this blog.

The housing shortage is an urgent challenge across Western Europe. Yet when it comes to making better use of existing homes, the Netherlands is lagging behind. In a recent article by Platform31, written by Frank Wassenberg and Gerard van Bortel (Delft University of Technology) and previously published in Trouw on 26 September, the authors clearly explain why homestay renting is an underestimated solution — and what the Netherlands can learn from its neighbours.

Homestay renting: fast results with social benefits

According to the authors, homestay renting is one of the simplest ways to quickly create additional housing. The Netherlands has more than eight million homes, many of which are relatively spacious, while at the same time hundreds of thousands of people — often young adults — are searching for affordable accommodation. Homestay renting directly connects these groups and not only provides housing, but also social benefits such as reduced loneliness and stronger social ties.

Despite this potential, homestay renting still receives limited attention in national politics. Election programmes continue to focus primarily on new construction, while better use of existing housing stock remains underdeveloped.

What do other countries do differently?

Wassenberg and Van Bortel show that neighbouring countries take a more creative approach to homestay renting. In France, intergenerational living is actively encouraged. Older residents are always allowed to rent out a room to a young person without needing approval from the municipality or a mortgage provider. Rent can even be reduced if the tenant provides light support. In Germany, similar arrangements exist where young people live with older residents in a role comparable to an “au pair for seniors”.

Another key difference is flexibility. In many countries, both host and tenant can terminate the rental agreement with a short notice period. This lowers the threshold to start renting out a room, whereas in the Netherlands the fear of long-term commitment often holds people back.

Fewer rules, more encouragement

The authors argue for a set of simple measures that could quickly make homestay renting more attractive in the Netherlands. These include allowing one room to be rented out without a permit, increasing the tax-free income threshold (as in the UK and Ireland), temporarily relaxing regulations during the housing shortage, and modernising the image of homestay renting.

Their conclusion is clear: homestay renting is low-hanging fruit in a tight housing market. By learning from neighbouring countries and simplifying regulations, the Netherlands could unlock thousands of additional housing opportunities in a short period of time — without building a single new home. At Hospi Housing we can only approve: homestay rental is the future and their is much to gain in the Netherlands.

💻 Interested in starting renting yourself? Sign up easily and for free.

👉 The full article is available via Platform31 and was previously published in Trouw on 26 September.