Finding a student room in Utrecht has become even more difficult this summer. The cause is the new Affordable Rent Act, which has been in force since 1 July 2024. This law determines the maximum rent through a point system. This allows landlords to charge less rent, making room rentals financially unattractive. In addition, strict permit requirements for house sharing with more than three residents are an additional barrier. In many cases, these permits are not granted.
As a result, many landlords are dropping out or deciding to sell their properties. As a result, the rental supply in Utrecht has dropped by 10.9 per cent, compared with a 43 per cent drop nationwide. Students like Charlotte struggle to find a permanent place to live and are therefore often forced to move regularly.
Interest group Vidius supports the law, but argues for more lenient rules around house sharing, for example by allowing it up to four people without a permit. Kences director Jolan de Bie also sees housing sharing and improving campus facilities as possible solutions. She questions the effectiveness of the law if it leads to a decrease in the supply of rooms.
The law is well intentioned, but in practice leads to a decrease in the number of available rooms. More flexibility in regulations, especially around permits, could help balance the housing market.
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