A temporary tenancy agreement (tijdelijk huurcontract) is a residential lease that ends on a fixed date. Since the Permanent Tenancy Agreements Act (Wet vaste huurcontracten) entered into force on 1 July 2024, an open-ended lease is the norm again. A temporary lease is only allowed with groups designated by law. A temporary lease with anyone else counts as an open-ended lease with full tenant protection.
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Who can still get a temporary lease?
A temporary lease of up to two years is allowed with, among others, students living elsewhere for their studies and international students, tenants who must move temporarily because of renovation, people leaving social shelters, tenants on a second-chance lease, separated parents who want to live near their children, and people working temporarily on the Wadden Islands. Target-group leases of up to five years remain possible for young people and PhD candidates.
Which other exceptions apply?
Short-term use, such as holiday homes, lettings under Articles 15 and 16 of the Vacancy Act (Leegstandwet), and sublets under a diplomat clause fall outside these rules. A lodger has limited protection during the first nine months (Article 7:269(2) Dutch Civil Code).
What about leases signed before 1 July 2024?
The old rules continue to apply. Such a lease ends on its end date only if the landlord notified the tenant in writing between three months and one month beforehand (Article 7:271(1) Dutch Civil Code). Otherwise it continues for an indefinite period. A tenant can always terminate a temporary lease early with one month’s notice.
Related terms
See also residential rent protection.
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