Landlord or Host Family
Another option when renting accommodation in the Netherlands is to rent a room from a landlord. A landlord rents out a house or part of their own house to students or professionals: they are usually the owner of the house as well. If you live with other renters you are a tenant. If the landlord lives with you in a property which they rent themselves, you may be a 'sub-letter'. Your landlord is only allowed to sublet a room if this is not prohibited by their own rental contract.
Different rules apply depending on whether your landlord lives with you or not. If the landlord shares the house with you, they are entitled to cancel your contract at any time during the first nine months of your rental contract, whether or not they have a valid reason. They must however, give you a notice period of at least three months. Once you have been living in the property for more than nine months, the landlord must have a legitimate reason to cancel your contract. One way of avoiding problems with a live-in landlord is to draw up a set of agreed rules when you move in regarding use of the shared areas of the house. Many problems arise because a tenant is not behaving in the way in which the landlord would like, for example, if a tenant does not wash up or spends an unreasonable amount of time using the communal computer.
You may be able to find an available room with a 'hospita'. This is the classic idea of a traditional landlord / landlady, who is typically elderly, cooks for the tenants each night and discourages girlfriends / boyfriends. Essentially, a hospita offers you catered accommodation, often at a fair price, but may expect you to follow a set of house rules in exchange.
Often the rules made by a landlord are more strict than the rules for an average student room. There may, for example, be restrictions on the number of friends who can come over at any one time, a rule forbidding overnight guests or limitations on when you are allowed to play loud music. Alternatively, you may have a very friendly landlord who always wishes to talk to you. It is important to consider the social aspects involved with sharing a home with strangers before agreeing to a rental contract.
How does it work?
There are several different possibilities to find a room offered by a landlord, whether by reading advertisements in the newspaper, on the internet or asking for advice from your friends and family. Often older landlords will post an advertisement in the newspaper rather than use the internet. Once you have found a room that you like the sound of, you need to contact the landlord and ask to arrange a viewing. If you like the room and are able to agree on the rules with the landlord you can sign a contract.
The average rent for a room from a landlord: €250.
Advantages
Costs: renting a room from a landlord is often cheaper than renting a room in a student house / flat.
The 'living at home' feeling: renting a room in a house with other people or a family can prove a good compromise between living with your own family and living on your own.
Disadvantages
Supervision: the landlord supervises what happens in the house and you may not be allowed total freedom.
Contact: there is less chance to meet new people and make friends if you rent a room with another family than if you rent a room with several other students / professionals.
