Our call to the House of Representatives: treat the hospitaverhuur bill with urgency

On behalf of Geef Tijdelijk Thuis, we sent a letter to the House of Representatives. Our request: treat the hospitaverhuur bill with urgency.

On behalf of Geef Tijdelijk Thuis - the partnership between Hospi Housing, Kamers met Aandacht and Onder de Pannen - we sent a letter to the standing parliamentary committee for Housing and Spatial Planning.

Our message is clear: the hospitaverhuur bill is ready for the next step. Now it is time to move forward.

As organisations working in practice every day, we see how great the need is for affordable and social housing. At the same time, around 100.000 rooms in people’s homes remain unused. Not because people do not want to help, but because there is still too much uncertainty about rules, permission, municipal policy and financial consequences.

Hospitaverhuur and home-sharing are not a replacement for new construction. But they are one of the fastest ways to create additional housing in the short term. Nothing needs to be built; it is about making better use of what is already there. That helps people looking for a home and gives hosts extra income, social contact and a concrete way to contribute.

Why this call matters now

In recent years, support for hospitaverhuur has grown strongly. More and more municipalities, housing associations, social organisations and residents recognise that home-sharing can be a practical addition to tackling the housing shortage.

But goodwill alone is not enough.

In practice, potential hosts still run into the same questions. Is it allowed by my municipality? Will my housing association give permission? What will my mortgage lender say? What happens if I want to sell my home? And what if it does not work out with the tenant in my own house?

These are not minor details. They are exactly the barriers that determine whether someone feels able to take the step. And that is why clear legislation is needed. Not as the endpoint, but as a foundation to make hospitaverhuur possible, understandable and safe for more people.

Our two requests to Parliament

In our letter, we ask the parliamentary committee for two things.

1. Treat the bill with urgency As soon as the bill reaches the House of Representatives, we ask for swift and careful consideration. Every month that existing housing remains unused means that people looking for a home have to wait longer.

2. Test the law against practice Hospitaverhuur does not take place on paper. It happens at home. At the kitchen table. That is why we ask Members of Parliament to actively include the experiences of hosts and tenants.

We warmly invite the committee for a working visit to a host and tenant at home. In a conversation like that, it becomes clear why people open up their homes, what it brings them and which uncertainties still hold them back.

Which barriers does the bill remove?

In the letter, we explain why the bill matters so much in practice. Three points stand out.

1. Sale of the house as ground for termination

An important part of the bill is that sale of the home, or the death of the host, becomes a new ground for termination in hospitaverhuur.

The aim is not to make it easier to end rental contracts without reason. The aim is to remove a concrete risk for hosts and mortgage lenders: that a home remains structurally burdened by a hospitaverhuur agreement when it is sold.

This matters especially because a large share of the potential housing space is with owner-occupiers. Research by Hospi Housing among around 2.000 interested hosts showed that approximately 70% are owner-occupiers with a mortgage. If mortgage lenders get more certainty, it becomes easier for this group to rent out a room.

2. A homestay contract of up to five years, with a trial period

The bill also introduces a special homestay contract of up to five years, with a nine-month trial period.

That trial period is essential. Hospitaverhuur takes place in your own home. It is understandable that people wonder: what if it does not work out? What if it does not fit into my daily life after all?

At the same time, a contract of up to five years prevents a good living situation from ending too soon. If it does work well, tenants can stay longer. That is valuable for students and starters, but also important for vulnerable tenants who need time and stability before taking a next step.

3. Financial clarity for tenants who start hosting

The bill also provides more clarity for tenants who want to start hosting themselves.

Social housing tenants who rent out a room should be able to object to an income-related rent increase if that increase is caused by the income of their tenant. After all, these are two separate households.

That makes hospitaverhuur fairer and more attractive in housing association homes as well. Especially there, renting out a room can make a real difference: extra financial space, social contact and better use of existing housing.

Legislation is a start, not an endpoint

The bill can remove important barriers. But legislation alone is not enough.

Hospitaverhuur should not only be legally possible, but also practically workable. Municipalities need clear policies. Housing associations need to know when they can give permission. Mortgage lenders and insurers need to assess hospitaverhuur differently from commercial renting. And hosts need a place to go with their questions.

That is why, alongside the law, we continue to work on better information, personal guidance and cooperation with municipalities, housing associations, mortgage lenders and other partners. Only when legislation, policy, communication and support come together can hospitaverhuur be scaled up quickly and responsibly.

Geef Tijdelijk Thuis is ready

Geef Tijdelijk Thuis is a partnership between three independent organisations: Hospi Housing, Kamers met Aandacht and Onder de Pannen. Each has its own target group and way of working, but we share one mission: to create more affordable, temporary and social housing in people’s homes.

Together, we show that hospitaverhuur and home-sharing do not only create additional housing, but also social connection, stability and perspective.

Geef Tijdelijk Thuis is ready to support the implementation of the bill in practice.

Do you want to learn more about the partnership? Visit geeftijdelijkthuis.nl.

Do you have a spare room and want to know what is possible? Hospi Housing is happy to help you get started.