Renting a room in your own home? These are the rules in the municipality of Groningen

Do you live in the municipality of Groningen and are considering renting out a room (or several rooms) in your home? Here are the rules surrounding homestay rental in Groningen.

Nothing tops Groningen. Groningen is seen as thé student city of the Netherlands. Did you know that the city, together with Wageningen and Delft, has the highest 'student density' in the country? One in six residents is a student. Not surprisingly, as Groningen has everything a student heart desires: renowned educational institutions like the University of Groningen and the Hanze University of Applied Sciences, a city center that feels like a village, numerous study and student associations, and of course pubs with no closing times. In short: there's always something to do.

Groningen's charm ensures that the number of students keeps growing. Students from the Netherlands and abroad do everything they can to secure a nice place, but unfortunately, many miss out. People who already live in or around the city, have a spare room, and enjoy sharing their home, therefore increasingly choose to rent out a room in their home to a student.

But... can you just rent out rooms? In this blog post, we delve deeper into the rules surrounding room rental in the municipality of Groningen.

What if you live just outside Groningen city?

Most students study in the city, so you might think that it only makes sense to rent out a room if you live in the city. That's not the case. We see that students are increasingly looking for rooms outside the city. On the one hand, for practical reasons (the rooms are generally cheaper there, and there's less competition), and on the other hand, because they enjoy the peace and nature outside the city.

So if you live in a neighboring municipality of Groningen city, such as Haren, Bedum, Winsum, Ten Boer, or Zuidhorn - know that students are also (or especially) looking for a nice place there.

The rules of homestay rental in Groningen

In general, the municipality of Groningen maintains a rather strict room rental policy. They do this 'to safeguard the livability in the city' - so you can't just rent out part of your home.

Fortunately, in the years 2022-2024 they make an exception for homestay rental. Due to a significant room shortage in Groningen, the rules have been temporarily eased, and the municipality has started collaborating with us, Hospi Housing (you can find the press release here!). This means the following:

Homestay rental, where you rent an independent room in your own home, is temporarily allowed without a permit. You can rent out one room per academic year for a maximum period of 6 months via Hospi Housing.

This rule does not apply in the neighborhoods Vinkhuizen, Schildersbuurt, and Indische Buurt, due to the high number of students in these areas. More information about the regulations can be found on the website of the municipality of Groningen, under the heading 'What are the possibilities for homestay rental?'.

Why would you rent out a room in your own home?

It can be quite exciting to rent out a room in your own home. You're not alone in feeling this; most hosts feel the same way when they first open their door to someone else. But for most, they're delighted they did it. Below are a few reasons why our hosts are so enthusiastic about their homestay adventure.

1. You earn an additional income

Not unimportantly, homestay rental can be an attractive source of additional income. Renting out a room in your home can help you, for instance, alleviate mortgage or rental costs. Bonus: as a host, you can earn up to €5998 tax-free annually.

2. You connect more with others

Some people opt for homestay rental after a divorce, when the children have left home, or simply because they enjoy the company and activity in the house. By renting a room to a student, you get to know new, often younger people that you might not meet in daily life. homestay rental thus broadens your horizons!

3. You assist a student in need of housing

The shortage of student housing in Groningen can be overwhelming for students from outside the city. By renting out a room, you actively contribute to improving the housing situation and support student well-being.

In short, a win-win situation for everyone...

With its irresistible charms, Groningen city will undoubtedly continue to be a magnet for students, and the room shortage seems to pose an ever-growing challenge. homestay rental is a wonderful way for people both inside and outside the city to contribute to solving the housing shortage while benefiting from extra income and company. A win-win situation for everyone!

If you live in or around Groningen and are considering becoming a host, we warmly invite you to register with us. Registration is free, and there's no obligation. We guide and support you step by step through the complete process of room rental, so you can embark on your first homestay adventure without worries. We're here to help!