Rotterdam's alderman for housing visits a local host & tenant couple

During a site visit in Oud-Mathenesse, it became clear to Rotterdam’s housing alderman how home-sharing contributes to affordable housing and stronger social connections in the city.

12:00 PM, 28th of January, Oud-Mathenesse, Rotterdam

What does home-sharing look like in practice? During a site visit in Oud-Mathenesse, Rotterdam’s housing alderman met hosts and tenants to talk about their experiences. In Marleen and Richard’s living room, it became clear how home-sharing contributes to affordable housing and stronger social connections in the city.

After climbing the stairs, we receive a warm welcome from hosts Marleen and Richard. Their living room is filled with plants, paintings hang on the walls, and homemade cake and freshly brewed coffee await us on the table.

One by one, the guests arrive: the alderman for Housing with her spokesperson, a journalist, two photographers, a city councillor, and a student who also rents through Hospi Housing with another host couple elsewhere in Rotterdam.

Alderman Zeegers takes a seat next to Marleen and Richard, and the conversation starts right away. “As a municipality, we are incredibly happy with the 100 Hospi Housing matches so far, but we would like to see many more. What do you think we can do to encourage more people to start hosting?”

How it started for hosts Marleen and Richard

Marleen and Richard began hosting when their three children (two sons aged 22 and a daughter aged 25) left home to study and live independently in Rotterdam. “We’re used to having a lively house and have hosted people for longer periods before, so it immediately felt familiar.”

They prefer hosting international students, mainly because of the temporary nature and the opportunity to connect with people from all over the world. To them, it doesn’t feel like renting out a room, but rather like sharing their home. “We truly see it as living together.”

The support provided by Hospi Housing has been crucial. “The communication is very clear, and they guide you through the entire process: from finding a tenant and arranging contracts to support during the rental period. We strongly support Hospi Housing’s mission – nothing but compliments.”

Experiences of tenant Charlotte

Tenant Charlotte then joins the conversation. She lives in Rotterdam Noord with a young couple and moved from Maastricht to Rotterdam last year to pursue her master’s degree. Initially, news about the housing shortage made her hesitate.

“I soon realized that the housing crisis in the big cities is even more urgent than in the south.”

Eventually, with some luck – as one of fifty respondents – she found a room through Hospi Housing. “I was done with living in student houses and was specifically looking for cosy housing, shared with others.”

When Alderman Zeegers asks whether she has much contact with her hosts, Charlotte replies enthusiastically: “Absolutely. They even helped me find work at the local bar, Reijngoud.” “That’s nice,” the alderman responds, “it’s right around the corner from my place!”

"500 matches in Utrecht? Rotterdam can do better!"

The conversation continues, touching on shared meals, mutual care, and the importance of helping someone feel at home in a new city. After a short visit to “the room” – where Marleen and Richard always host female tenants – the visit comes to an end.

Both the alderman and the councillor leave inspired and agree to follow up on this initiative together. “There’s more we can do here. When I hear about the numbers in Utrecht, I start to feel competitive,” says Alderman Zeegers. “Rotterdam can do better.”

A successful visit, and a powerful example of how home-sharing works in practice – for hosts, tenants, and the city alike.