Last updated: October 2026 · Written by Erdal Aydın, founder of Amsterdam Property Renting

Short answer: Expats and international professionals are popular tenants for good reasons. In our experience, they pay their rent on time, often have an employer behind them and look after the home well. The contract is open-ended, as with any tenant since July 2024, but in practice many expats buy a home of their own within about three years. So your home often becomes available again after a few years.

Why landlords like renting to expats

• Rent paid on time: in our experience, international professionals are reliable payers, usually with a permanent job contract.
• Stable income: highly skilled migrants from outside the EU need a minimum salary to work here, and some employers pay a relocation budget or rent the home for their employee. Many also benefit from the 30% ruling, a tax advantage that raises their net income (27% from 2027).
• They often move on to buy: many expats rent first and buy once they know the area, often within about three years.
• Care for the home: most international tenants treat the home as their base in a new country.
• Demand for move-in-ready homes: newly arrived expats are often willing to pay for a furnished, well-finished home.
• Quick decisions: people relocating for work have a start date and often sign after a video viewing.

The contract

A new contract with an expat is open-ended, like any other. You can agree an initial period in which neither side can terminate, which gives you certainty about your income; after that, the tenant can leave with one to three months’ notice. Many expat tenancies end because the tenant buys a home, moves for a new job or returns home. If you are leaving your home temporarily yourself, a lease with a diplomatic clause may fit better.

Fair selection: no “expats only”

Under the Good Landlordship Act, you may not select or advertise on nationality or origin, so “expats only” or “internationals only” is not allowed. You can market your home where international professionals look, in English, and select every applicant on the same written criteria, such as income and references.

What to prepare

1. Furnishing: decide between furnished, upholstered or unfurnished.
2. An English contract and English house information.
3. Registration: tenants must register at the address to get their citizen service number (BSN).
4. Rent and points: keep the rent within the legal maximum.
5. Photos and a video tour: many expats choose before they arrive.
6. Mortgage and insurance: ask your lender for consent and tell your insurer.

Renting to expats in your city

• Renting to expats in Amsterdam: the international centre of the country.
• Renting to expats in Amstelveen: one in four residents has a foreign nationality.
• Renting to expats in Hoofddorp: four minutes from Schiphol.
• Renting to expats in Almere: space for international families.

How we help

Amsterdam Property Renting has rented out and managed more than 1,000 homes across the Netherlands since 2019, many of them to international professionals. We market your home in English through our network, relocation partners and the main platforms, screen tenants on income and references, arrange video viewings and draw up the contract and check-in report.

Renting to expats: frequently asked questions

Do expats pay their rent on time?

In our experience, yes. Most have a stable job and a salary well above the income requirements, and some employers pay the rent directly.

Can I give an expat a fixed-term contract?

Usually not. Since July 2024, contracts are open-ended by default. In practice, many expats move on after a few years.

How long do expats usually stay?

It varies, but in our experience many buy their own home within about three years, or move on for work.

Can I advertise for “expats only”?

No. Advertising or selecting on nationality or origin is not allowed. Market in English and use the same written criteria for everyone.

Do expats prefer furnished homes?

Newly arrived expats often do. Families who stay longer often prefer unfurnished or upholstered homes.

This page gives general information, not legal advice. Rules and conditions change; check your own situation with us or an adviser before you sign.

Sources

• Volkshuisvesting Nederland: fixed rental contracts are the norm
• Business.gov.nl: 30% ruling changes from 2027
• CBS: immigration in 2025 (June 2026)
• Rijksoverheid: types of rental contracts