Cabinet wants to make temporary rental contracts possible again for all students

Minister Elanor Boekholt-O’Sullivan of Housing wants to make temporary rental contracts with a maximum duration of two years available again for all students. She writes this in a letter to the House of Representatives. The proposal is part of several relaxations to the Affordable Rent Act introduced in 2024 and relates to the closely connected Fixed-Term Rental Contracts Act.

Under the Fixed-Term Rental Contracts Act, which came into force in July 2024, temporary contracts were in many cases no longer permitted. The aim was to provide tenants with greater security and improve mobility in the housing market, so that people would not repeatedly be confronted with short-term contracts. A broad exception already applied: students moving from another municipality to the city where they are going to study could already receive a one-time temporary contract of up to two years. Under the new proposal, this exception would apply to all students.

Points system

In addition to the return of temporary contracts, the cabinet is introducing further measures that could affect students. Some students with self-contained housing may face higher housing costs due to the relaxation of rental rules. The cabinet plans to stop deducting points in the housing valuation system for the complete absence of outdoor space, which could lead to higher rents for studios without a balcony or garden.

The changes are scheduled to take effect on 1 January next year. It is up to the House of Representatives to decide whether this proposal from the minority cabinet will ultimately be adopted.