Renting out a room in your own house in Leiden: is that allowed? These are the rules

Do you live in or around Leiden and are you interested in homestay rental? These are the rules for renting out a room in your own house in Leiden.

While Leiden, together with Delft, may be the smallest student city in the Netherlands in terms of surface area, it certainly does not lack appeal compared to other student cities. It is home to the oldest university in the Netherlands, numerous museums, stately historic buildings, and many cozy cafes, restaurants, and squares. Furthermore, the city is known for its many student and study associations and the activities and events they organize specifically for students. No wonder thousands of students flock to Leiden every year to immerse themselves in student life.

The appeal that Leiden has on students, however, also presents a problem: For years, Leiden has been grappling with a severe room shortage. As a result, many national and international students struggle to find suitable and affordable housing.

Fortunately, there is a solution: homestay rental. By homestay rental, we mean renting out a room in your own house, for instance, to a student. Many people wonder if this is allowed. That's a very good question, and the short answer is that the regulations vary depending on the municipality you live in. In this article, we will discuss the rules for homestay rental in Leiden and give you three reasons why many hosts choose it.

Do you live (just) outside Leiden? There is also a demand for rooms there.

First, we often get asked if it makes sense for people living outside the city to register as hosts. That's not a problem. On the contrary. More and more students are choosing the peace and greenery outside the city. Our excellent public transport easily connects them to the bustling city center. Read the story of Nathalie and Chanou, for instance.

So, if you live in a neighboring municipality of Leiden, like Oegstgeest, Voorschoten, Wassenaar, or Leiderdorp, those locations are also beautiful and often just a stone's throw from Leiden. For students who want to enjoy peace, a smaller community, nature, and still be close to the university and other amenities, homestay rental outside the city is an excellent option.

The rules for room rental in Leiden.

Leiden has a fairly flexible policy when it comes to homestay rental. The rules are as follows: In Leiden, you can rent a room to a maximum of one person, without a permit, in the house you live in. If you don't live in the house yourself, you can rent rooms to up to 2 people without a permit. More information can be found on the website of the Leiden municipality.

Please note: as of January 1, 2024, a series of new measures have been implemented concerning good landlordship, transformation of houses into multiple separate units and protection against commercial activities. You can read the details of what has changed on the "Good Renting" page of the Leiden municipal website (in Dutch). We have summarized the key points:

Homestay rental: no permit needed in most cases

Landlords need a permit to convert living space into separate units. For Homestay rental they made an exeption. If you rent out no more than one non-independent living space to no more than one person, you do not need a permit. Read more about the rules and exceptions on the municipal website.

Rental permit required in part of Leiden

In parts of Leiden, a landlord permit for good landlordship is required to be allowed to rent out rooms. This permit applies to both private and commercial landlords. This permit is only needed if you rent out one or more rooms in the following districts:

Binnenstad Noord: entire district

Binnenstad Zuid: Pieterswijk, Levendaal-West, and Levendaal-East

Stationsdistrict: entire district

Leiden Noord: entire district

Bos & Gasthuiswijk: Haagweg-Noord

Merenwijk: Slaaghwijk and Merenwijk-Centrum

Morsdistrict: Transvaal

Good landlordship reporting point

Tenants can report landlords who do not comply with the rules of good landlordship. The Good Landlordship Act sets clear rules that landlords must adhere to. If a landlord does not comply, a tenant can report this to the municipality.

Collaboration between Leiden municipality and Hospi Housing

To further promote homestay rental as a solution to the room shortage, the Leiden municipality has also partnered with us, Hospi Housing. About this collaboration and the fact that landladies are making a comeback in student life, Omroep West wrote about it, among others. About 575 students registered for a room in Leiden last year, and around 60 students found a room. We are proud of that!

3 reasons to rent out a room in your own house.

Starting with homestay rental can be quite exciting. We completely understand. You are opening your own house to someone you don't (yet) know. It might sound like a cliché, but you get a lot in return (read, for example, this story of Wim and Monique). Here are some of the reasons why our hosts are so glad they registered with us:

1. You offer students a warm welcome

By renting out a room, you help a student find a place in a (still) unfamiliar city. A nice place to live is invaluable, especially when you are just starting to study and moving to a new city. As a landlady, you offer a warm welcome and contribute to a positive experience for the student.

2. You not only receive extra income but also company

Not just the municipality of Leiden, but also our national government promotes homestay rental. For instance, you can earn up to €5,881 tax-free per year. That's a nice additional income! Moreover, many of our hosts enjoy the company: they get to know new people, perhaps discover new languages and cultures, and sometimes build deep friendships with their new housemate (although that's not a requirement; if you prefer to keep to yourself, you can indicate that when you register).

3. You help solve the room shortage

By renting out a room, you actively contribute to solving the room shortage in Leiden. With your help, more housing becomes available for students, giving more people the opportunity to study in this beautiful city.

Want to become a landlady? Register without obligation

homestay rental is a wonderful solution for both tenants and landlords. Students find a nice place faster, landlords earn extra income, and together they often form valuable connections. Many hosts and students meet people they would not otherwise encounter.

Want to become a host? We warmly invite you to register with us. Registration is free, and you are not committed to anything. We guide and support you step by step through the entire room rental process, ensuring you can embark on this new experience without any worries. If you have questions first, check out our frequently asked questions or contact us. We are happy to help!