Finding a room

People in the Netherlands (including Groningen) either live in a house they own themselves or in a house or room owned by another party. Most people with a temporary period of stay (longer than in a hotel) will live in accommodation owned by someone else. In general, accommodations fall into one of three categories:

• Housing corporations
• Private housing companies
• Private people

A housing corporation (or housing association) is a non-profit organization that owns, manages, and rents out affordable housing, primarily to people with low or moderate incomes. These organizations operate with a social mission to provide quality, accessible housing while reinvesting any surplus income into maintaining and improving properties. Housing corporations operate under strict governmental rules. In Groningen, the main housing corporations are:

Private housing companies own and rent out properties for profit. Providing accommodation is their type of business. A wide range of private companies exists, with very varying practices and quality of accommodations. Unlike housing corporations, their market is less regulated by the goverment. However, like public housing, the maximum rent (increase) may be regulated. In Groningen and Leeuwarden, examples of private housing companies are:

Some private people offer a house or room for rent. For instance, a student or a staff member who goes abroad may have a room or house to offer for a certain time. Some people may also have rooms for rent in their own house or in a second house that they own.

An estate agency (or rental agent) is a company or individual that acts as an intermediary between landlords and tenants. In Groningen, rental agents help international students find accommodation by advertising available properties, arranging viewings, and handling rental contracts.
It is important to note that rental agents do not own the properties themselves—they work on behalf of private landlords. When renting through a rental agent, always check whether any agency fees apply, as charging tenants unjustified fees is not allowed in the Netherlands. It is only permitted to pay a fee when you ask the agency for a search request to find accommodation for you. In most cases, the price is one month’s rent + 21% tax. Examples of estate agencies are:

Staying with a host or guest family will provide you with a soft landing in town and is the perfect way to get in touch with the Dutch culture and language. You’ll have your own private room and shared facilities like a kitchen and bathroom. Hospi Housing has a big network of verified hosts and guest families. You can apply and use their platform for free at Hospihousing.

The Rent Support Center also offers free legal advice to students who experience problems with housing and have disagreements with their landlords. With the handy Room Book of the Groninger Students Union (GSb), you can find a lot of information.