Renting a property in The Hague

You will have noticed that it is not only difficult to find a property for sale, but renting a property is also becoming increasingly difficult. It is because of the difficulty we receive quite a few questions. Questions such as: “How do I find a rental property in The Hague?”, ‘How can I find a rental property as quickly as possible?’ or “How can I increase my chances of finding a rental property in The Hague?” We will answer these questions for you.

Renting a property in The Hague; where to begin?

Firstly, if you want to rent a property in The Hague, you need to consider what your requirements are. What would you prefer, but also ask yourself what you would be willing to settle for. These days, there is a good chance that you will not find your dream home straight away.

On the other hand, you want to enjoy living there, as you will be paying a considerable amount each month. That is why it is important to draw up a list of specific requirements. Do you want to live in the city centre? Or would you prefer a rental property on the outskirts of the city? Are you looking for an apartment or a house? Furnished or unfurnished? Do you want to live close to a school or not?

Expectations for rental properties in The Hague

It is wise to determine your maximum budget in advance. To stay realistic, you can look at the property market in your desired area. A 105 m² flat in the heart of The Hague may be what you want, but with a budget of €700 per month, you’ll need to adjust your expectations. It is also important to consider how long you want to stay in one place. If you are not entirely enthusiastic, but have managed to find a rental property in The Hague at a good price, then living there for a year is often still manageable.

Even more choices

Now that you have written down your requirements, there are other choices you can make. There are several options for renting a property in The Hague. Do you want to rent in the social housing sector or are you looking at the private sector? Will you choose to rent privately or a rental property through a housing association? New tenants in particular will shrug their shoulders at these questions.

One thing is certain: you want to find a nice rental property that fits your budget as quickly as possible. Still, it is useful to become more familiar with the terms mentioned above. Housing associations almost exclusively offer social housing. In the private sector, individuals offer their properties for rent.

Renting a property in the private sector in The Hague

What is the difference? You are only eligible for social housing if you meet the even stricter income requirements. If a property is not classified as social housing and therefore falls within the private sector, landlords are free to determine their rent price. For these reasons, social housing is cheaper than private rental properties in the private sector.

The advantages of renting in the private sector are:

• You do not have to meet stricter (maximum) income requirements
• Sometimes the properties are offered semi-furnished or furnished
• You do not have to deal with long waiting lists
• You do not have to accumulate points for years upon years
• You have direct contact with the landlord or his/her property manager

Renting a semi-furnished or furnished property in The Hague is ideal for anyone who, due to circumstances, does not have any furniture. This could be due to divorce, international relocation, or students entering the housing market for the first time.

Slumlords?!

The risk of the private sector is that you may encounter a dreaded “slumlord”, who charges an excessive rental price for a poorly maintained property. Such a rental property will certainly not make you happy. Housing associations, on the other hand, are subject to stricter rules in terms of maintenance, so you are less likely to encounter this when working with them. However, it is not always possible to rent a property in The Hague from a housing association. To avoid problems as much as possible, it is wise to engage the services of a letting agent.

Renting a property as soon as possible

And now: how can you find a rental property in The Hague as quickly as possible? Based on your personal housing requirements, a letting agent will search for a rental property for you. The letting agent will search, select and screen the most suitable properties for you. Because letting agents search the entire regional housing market on a daily basis, they know where to look to find a property that meets your requirements.

They know the desired living areas, the regional estate agents and the local housing market in detail. On top of that, they also have access to the latest housing offers, including properties that are sometimes not even on the market yet. So it makes sense to hire a letting agent if you want to rent a property in The Hague as quickly as possible.

Negotiating with the landlord

Renting a property in The Hague is not only difficult in terms of the search process. Negotiating with the landlord can also sometimes be a challenge. A letting agent arranges viewings for properties that seem suitable. Thanks to the screening process, you only view properties that meet your housing requirements.

After the viewing, you will evaluate and, if necessary, discuss the terms, conditions and strategy for negotiation with the letting agent. This ensures that you are in good hands and will not pay a hefty rent price for a property that is not worth it.

The paperwork when renting a property

In addition to handling the screening process, arranging viewings and negotiating on your behalf, letting agents also take care of the paperwork. Letting agents check the tenancy agreement for legal correctness and the agreed terms and conditions. Slumlords often find ways to avoid certain obligations in your tenancy agreement, such as maintenance and repairs.

Rent a property in The Hague free of worries

They also ensure that your new home is delivered as agreed. They do this by being present at the key handover. At that moment, they carry out a thorough inspection and check the meter readings. Everything is recorded in a comprehensive inspection report and a photo report. This ensures that you can enjoy carefree living in a home that meets your requirements under the best conditions.

Want to rent a property in The Hague?

You can imagine that the process of finding a rental property in The Hague takes longer and requires much more effort if you start it yourself. It is not impossible, but it is much more difficult. Especially now that the housing market is under so much pressure. In addition, renting a property in The Hague involves much more than just finding the right property. There is a high risk of poorly maintained properties and high rent prices. Or tenancy agreements where landlords try to get out of their obligations. This can mean that you spend longer than necessary looking for a rental property.

Would you like to know more about renting a property in The Hague and what a letting agent can do for you? Please feel free to contact us.