Knowledge Centre
Find the meaning of various terms related to renting & letting here.
When renting a new home, there's more to consider than simply picking a property and moving in. Especially when you're searching for a rental for the first time, there are several things to keep in mind. If you're new to the world of renting, you'll likely come across terms you're not familiar with, such as delivery condition, rent protection, and the rent tribunal. These are terms you really should know when you're renting a place on your own, as it's likely you'll deal with one or more of these aspects.
Waiting list
What does this entail?
Looking for a nice rental home? Then you've probably already been on quite a search. There are so many options that it's easy to lose sight of the forest for the trees. You have the private rental sector, where you look for a house yourself, but also the social rental sector. In the social rental sector, you register with a housing agency that keeps track of available social rental homes. If such a social rental home becomes available, you, as a registered person, can decide whether you want to move into that home. However, you need to be at the top of the waiting list to make this decision. Here you can find more information about the waiting list for rental homes.
What is a waiting list?
When you register with a housing agency, you are automatically placed on a waiting list. On the waiting list ahead of you are the people who haven't yet secured a home but who registered before you. Over time, you steadily move up the waiting list.
When a home becomes available in the housing agency's offering, they will inform the people on the waiting list. When you are number 1 on the waiting list, you will be the first to be approached by the housing corporation. This means you have been waiting the longest for a suitable home compared to everyone else on the list. You have the privilege to decide on the available home. If the home doesn't meet your requirements and desires, number 2 is contacted. As number 1 on the waiting list, you are not obliged to immediately move into the home that’s offered to you.
Social and private rental sector
If you're unable to find a rental home yourself or if a home in the private sector is too expensive, you may choose to register with a housing corporation in the social sector. To qualify for a social rental home, you must meet certain requirements. The main requirement is that you do not have a high annual income. People with a thicker wallet generally have a better chance of finding a rental home in the private sector than those with a lower income. Once you meet the requirements for the social rental sector and have registered, you will be placed on a waiting list. The housing corporation you are registered with will keep you informed of your position on the waiting list.
There are also waiting lists in the private sector. You can register with certain housing agencies to be considered for their housing offerings. This is common, for example, among students. There are various websites offering rooms, studios, and apartments to students. So, if you’re planning to study but are finding it difficult to secure a student room due to viewing evenings, this is an ideal solution.
Waiting time
The waiting time for when you become number 1 on the waiting list varies between each region and agency. In the Randstad, the queues can sometimes be so long that you might have to wait 5 to 10 years before you finally reach the top. Meanwhile, there are regions, such as Gelderland or Overijssel, where you only need to wait a few weeks or months. So, if you register in a particular region or with a specific agency, be aware that you won't be moving into your new home next week. Sometimes, quite a bit of time passes without you noticing. Therefore, it might be wise to register in advance for your future plans. If you are a student now and want to move into an apartment in 3 years, it doesn’t hurt to sign up on various websites now. For most, this can be done for free, and you can also remove yourself from the waiting list at no cost.