Groningen creates room for homestay rental

Groningen will not actively enforce restrictions on homestay renting while new rules are being prepared, creating more room to share housing under clear conditions.

Good news for (future) hosts in Groningen. The municipality is preparing new regulations for homestay renting and, in the meantime, has decided not to actively enforce existing restrictions, provided clear conditions are met. This already creates more room to rent out a room, ahead of the expected policy change in late 2026.

What does this mean in practice?

Groningen recognises homestay renting as a way to make better use of existing housing without harming neighbourhood liveability. While the current zoning plan still limits this form of renting, it will be amended. Until then, enforcement will not be prioritised.

In practice, this means homestay renting is allowed as long as the conditions are met and there is no fraud or nuisance.

Key conditions for homestay rental in Groningen

Homestay renting in Groningen is permitted if:

• the host lives in the home as their main residence;
• the host owns at least 50% of the property;
• the host has lived there for at least two years;
• one room is rented to one person;
• facilities such as kitchen or bathroom are shared;
• the room is at least 5 m²;
• a rental contract is in place.

No conversion permit is required as long as the property is not divided into three or more non-self-contained rooms.

Looking ahead to 2026

With this policy, Groningen is taking a clear step towards structurally enabling homestay renting. By the end of 2026, the zoning plan is expected to be updated to fully support this form of housing.

For Hospi Housing, this shows how municipalities can make a real difference: by allowing home sharing with clear and workable rules. However, in Groningen there is still a way to go.