Rules for Temporary Housing Contracts in Utrecht

In Utrecht, specific rules apply to temporary social housing rental contracts, as established in the Utrecht Municipality Housing Ordinance. These contracts last a maximum of 2 years and are intended for situations such as vacancy, renovation, or changes in social housing occupancy. For rental prices below the liberalization threshold of €879.14 (2024), no housing permit is required, but an exemption for temporariness must be obtained from the Municipality of Utrecht. Housing corporations such as Portaal, Mitros, and Bo-Ex are obligated to report this to the municipality. Tenants do not acquire permanent tenancy rights but are protected against eviction without recourse to the subdistrict court. Extensions are limited: after 2 years, the contract must either be converted into a permanent one or terminated, unless exceptional circumstances apply. Due to the extreme housing shortage in Utrecht – with a deficit of over 10,000 social housing units – temporary contracts have surged in popularity by 25% in 2023. Advantages for landlords include greater flexibility in addressing housing shortages. For tenants, it provides quick access to affordable housing in a city where the average waiting time for social housing is 8 years. During the COVID-19 pandemic, rules were temporarily relaxed for urgent cases. Always check your contract for the 'temporary' clause and the duration. In cases of misuse or ambiguities, you can turn to the Rent Tribunal or the Utrecht subdistrict court for review. The Municipality of Utrecht promotes this instrument to combat vacancy but warns against misuse.