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

Short answer: Students are one of the few tenant groups who can still get a fixed-term contract of up to two years in the Netherlands. That makes renting to students one of the last legal ways to rent out temporarily since the Fixed Rental Contracts Act took effect on 1 July 2024. Add a national shortage of about 20,000 student homes, and a well-priced home rarely stands empty. Special conditions apply, so check your situation before you advertise.

Why landlords rent to students

• Demand far exceeds supply: the national student housing monitor counted a shortage of about 20,200 student homes in the 19 main study cities for 2025–2026, with the highest pressure in Amsterdam.
• A fixed term is possible: students who move to a city to study can be given a temporary contract of up to two years. That gives you room to sell, renovate or move back later.
• A guarantor adds security: students usually rent with a parent or guardian who signs as guarantor.
• A predictable rhythm: demand peaks before the academic year starts in August and September, and contracts often follow the study calendar.
• A new group every year: when one tenant leaves, the next cohort is already looking.

Students can also be long-term tenants. One of the first student groups we housed in Amsterdam stayed in the same home for almost five years (see the LinkedIn post).

The Model B contract

Since 1 July 2024, a new rental contract is open-ended by default. Fixed-term contracts of up to two years are only allowed for specific groups. Students who move to another municipality to study, or who come from abroad to study in the Netherlands, are one of those groups. We use the Model B contract for these tenancies.

The contract only works if special conditions are met: for example, about who counts as a student for this purpose, and how and when you inform the tenant before the end date. If a condition is not met, the contract counts as open-ended and the tenant keeps full rent protection. That is why we check every situation before the contract is signed.

Rooms or a whole home?

Renting a whole home to one or two students is usually simple. Renting separate rooms to several unrelated students is different: most municipalities require a permit from three adults onwards, set minimum room sizes and limit the number of room rentals per street or neighbourhood. The rules differ per city, so check them for your address first.

What to arrange first

1. Rent: the points system decides the maximum rent, also for students. Many student homes fall in the regulated segments.
2. Furnishing: international students in particular look for furnished homes.
3. Guarantor and deposit: agree a guarantor in writing and take a deposit of at most two months’ basic rent.
4. House rules and check-in: clear rules and a check-in report with photos and meter readings protect your home.
5. Registration: students must be able to register at the address with the municipality.
6. Mortgage and insurance: ask your lender for consent and tell your insurer.

Fair selection

You may offer a student contract, but your selection criteria must be written down and the same for every applicant. Selecting on nationality, origin or similar grounds is not allowed under the Good Landlordship Act.

Renting to students in your city

Each city has its own student market and its own rules:

• Renting to students in Amsterdam: the tightest student market in the country.
• Renting to students in Amstelveen: next to the VU and the Uilenstede campus.
• Renting to students in Almere: more space, 21 minutes from Amsterdam.

How we help

Amsterdam Property Renting has rented out and managed more than 1,000 homes across the Netherlands since 2019. We check whether the Model B contract fits, set a legal and attractive rent, market your home to students and their parents, screen tenants and guarantors, and draw up the contract and check-in report.

Renting to students: frequently asked questions

Can I rent out my home to a student for a fixed period?

Yes. Students who move to a city to study can be given a fixed-term contract of up to two years. Special conditions apply, so we check your situation before the contract is signed.

What is the Model B contract?

It is the fixed-term rental contract we use for students. It ends on the agreed date if the conditions are met, including informing the tenant on time. If not, it counts as open-ended.

Is renting to students risky?

Not if it is well arranged. A guarantor, a deposit of up to two months’ basic rent, clear house rules and a detailed check-in report protect your home and income.

Can I rent out rooms to several students?

Often only with a permit, especially from three adults onwards. Renting a whole home to one or two students is usually the simplest route.

When is the best time to rent to students?

Demand peaks from May to September, before the academic year starts. Advertising in that period usually brings the most applicants.

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
• CMS: the Fixed Rental Contracts Act in practice (student exception)
• PONT Omgeving: Landelijke Monitor Studentenhuisvesting 2026 (Sept 2026)
• Rijksoverheid: types of rental contracts