Housing from Your Agency in the Netherlands: Your Rights, Deductions and What to Check

Housing from the agency is often what makes it possible to come to the Netherlands to work at all: you do not have to find a flat yourself in an unknown country. In return, you should know exactly how much they can deduct for it, which papers come with it, and what happens when the job ends.

How does agency housing work?

Many uitzendbureaus (employment agencies) offer housing together with the job. This can be a house shared by several people, an apartment or a larger housing site. You often have to share your room with someone, and the kitchen and bathroom are usually shared.

You usually do not pay the rent yourself; it is deducted from your pay. You can see this on your loonstrook (pay statement). That is exactly why it is important to know the rules: there is a maximum for the deduction.

How much can they deduct for housing?

The employer may deduct at most 25% of the minimum wage for housing. And only if the housing is certified, for example with SNF certification.

There was a plan to end this rule from 1 January 2026. But on 30 October 2025 the Dutch government announced that the rule stays.

In the Netherlands the minimum wage is set per hour, and adjusted twice a year, in January and July. Using the monthly reference minimum wage, the 25% maximum works out like this:

Period	Gross monthly minimum wage (from age 21)	25% (approx.)
from 1 January 2026	€2 294.40	about €574
from 1 July 2026	€2 337.00	about €584

So right now about €584 per month is the maximum that can be deducted from the minimum wage for housing. If the deduction is higher, or it is not clear what it is for, ask the agency in writing.

Also watch out that besides housing, other items can be deducted too, for example insurance or transport. These should not be mixed in with the rent: you must see them as separate lines on the loonstrook.

What does SNF certification mean?

SNF is a Dutch organisation that sets standards for worker housing and checks whether the housing meets them. The standards cover, for example, living space, cleanliness, safety and equipment.

The most important thing for you: the 25% deduction is only allowed for certified housing. So it is worth asking:

• Is the housing certified, and by which organisation?
• Where can you report it if something is wrong (mould, heating, overcrowding)?
• Who is the contact person if something needs repairing?

Why do you need a separate rental contract?

Under the Wet goed verhuurderschap (the Dutch law on good landlord practice), the rental contract cannot be part of the employment contract. You must get a separate, written rental contract.

This is not just a formality. From the separate contract you can see how much the rent is, what it includes (for example energy, internet, cleaning), how big the deposit is, and what rules apply to ending it. If something is missing, ask before you sign.

If you do not understand the language of the contract, ask for an English translation, or have someone you trust read it for you. Do not sign anything just because they are in a hurry.

What happens when the job ends?

This is the most sensitive point. Labour migrants often have no tenant protection, so the housing often ends together with the job. The Dutch housing ministry (BZK) is preparing changes to strengthen tenants' position, but for now you have to count with this risk.

What you can do: - Ask in advance how much time you will have to move out if your assignment ends. - Have money saved for a few weeks, so you do not get into trouble if you suddenly have to move. - Know where you could go temporarily, and who you can call.

What to check before you move in

Go through this list before you move in:

1. Separate rental contract: did you get it in writing, and do you understand what it says?
2. Price: exactly how much is the weekly or monthly rent, and what does it include?
3. Certification: is the housing SNF-certified or certified in another way?
4. Deposit: is there one, how much is it, and when do you get it back?
5. Roommate: will you be alone or with others in the room?
6. Condition: take photos of the room when you move in, especially of any existing damage.
7. Transport: how far is the workplace, and how do you get there?
8. Moving out: what happens if the job ends, or if you quit?

On Eyesonworks.eu you can filter specifically for jobs offered with housing, and after the click you always reach the agency's original job ad, where you can ask about the conditions in detail.

Rules for living together

In agency housing other people usually live with you, often from different countries. This can be good company, but it also brings friction. It is worth agreeing on these things at the start:

• are there house rules, and where can you read them,
• who is responsible for cleaning the shared rooms,
• do you get your own lockable cupboard or room key,
• can you have guests, and on what terms.

If the house rules include fines or deductions, for example for not cleaning, ask for this to be in writing too, in the rental contract or an attachment to it. What is not written down is hard to argue about later.

Mould and heating: what you can watch too

One of the most common problems in worker housing is mould. It appears mainly in winter, when many people live in one house, there is a lot of moisture from cooking, showering and clothes drying indoors, and the heating is not always even. With a few simple habits you can do a lot against it:

• Air the rooms briefly several times a day, and always after cooking and showering.
• Do not cover the radiator, and do not push furniture right up against the cold outside wall.
• Try not to dry clothes in your room.
• If you see mould spots, a leak or heating that does not work, report it to the agency in writing with a photo, as soon as possible.

More and more housing providers measure the temperature and humidity in each room, to spot the risk of mould even before spots appear. If you are curious how this works, and what good landlords do against mould, read eyesonrooms' guide to preventing mould (in Dutch).

If there is a problem

If you feel they deduct more than they should, or the condition of the housing is unacceptable, first report it to the agency in writing. If you do not get a solution, ask for advice from the Juridisch Loket (free legal advice) or a trade union, for example FNV or CNV. They can give you a reliable answer about your own situation.

In short

• At most 25% of the minimum wage can be deducted for housing; in the second half of 2026 this is about €584 per month.
• This deduction is only allowed for certified housing, for example SNF-certified.
• The rental contract must be separate and in writing; it cannot be part of the employment contract.
• Housing often ends together with the job, so have savings and a plan.
• Before you move in, ask questions, take photos, and get everything in writing.