Apartments

If your finances are not too stretched and you value your privacy, renting an apartment might be a good option. An apartment is a self-contained private housing unit within a residential complex; apartment blocks usually have various apartments on several different levels. Penthouses are not common in the Netherlands, but there are usually apartments of different sizes within the same building. When you move into the building you will be given two keys: one for the main entrance, accessible only to the residents, and one for opening the front door of your own apartment.

If you are looking for a self-contained place to live, living in an apartment is perfect. Nevertheless, apartments are not usually the cheapest option, so the costs might pose difficulties for some. Apartments in the Netherlands are expensive, even before extra costs such as gas, water and electricity. In addition to paying personal bills the shared bills have to be paid as well, for example for maintenance of the building. Also, most inhabitants will have to pay taxes, sometimes even taxes for the part of town in which they live. Some areas may require 'water taxes' (for maintenance of waterways). These taxes are not charged at one standard rate; the total amount tenants have to pay will depend on their household and their age. To reduce the costs you can decide to share the property with another person, for instance a boyfriend, girlfriend or colleague.

Every apartment complex has its own 'Association of Owners', or 'Vereniging van Eigenaren' in Dutch. The Association of Owners tries to find solutions to problems for those people who live in the apartment building, and organizes the upkeep of the building, ensuring that the complex retains its value and runs efficiently. The Association of Owners can also introduce household rules which must be obeyed by all tenants.

If you are interested in renting an apartment you will need to go through an intermediary, for example a landlord or an estate agent. An agent can help you search for an apartment, and may prove especially helpful for foreigners who want to find a property to rent the Netherlands.

How does it work?
When searching for an apartment you can enlist the help of an agent. This is the most useful and most common way to find an apartment. Since the internet has become an everyday research tool, the best place to begin a rental search is often online. Often an online search will save you money and time; one website may have hundreds of properties to choose between, and charge no 'finder's fee'. You may wish to rent an apartment, or rent a house and sublet rooms to other renters. However, as the 'head renter' you will usually be required to have a fixed income, and may be required to guarantee that the rent will be paid even if your housemates fail to pay.

An average 3-room apartment (70-100m²) costs €800 a month in a big city and about €700 a month in a less urbanised area.

Advantages
Size: an apartment tends to offer you a lot of space.
Privacy: you can decorate and live as you choose without considering housemates, and do not have to share a kitchen or bathroom.

Disadvantages
Cost: apartments in the Netherlands are expensive.
Social contact: you may find it difficult to make friends and meet new people when you have no housemates.