Employment agencies with housing: what to check
Sources checked on · Launch candidate pending human review · Translated from the Spanish original
Many EU workers start in the Netherlands through an agency, which sometimes also arranges housing (WorkinNL). It is convenient when you arrive, but it ties your home to your job: get everything in writing.
Who this is for
Anyone who has received or is looking for an agency offer that includes housing.
What you need
- The job offer in writing.
- The housing conditions in writing: price, what it includes and the address.
Steps
- Look the agency up in the Chamber of Commerce (KvK) register and, if it claims a quality mark, in the SNA register. According to WorkinNL, from 2027 all agencies will need approval.
- Ask for the housing price and what it includes (energy, water, internet, transport).
- If it is deducted from your pay: only certain deductions are allowed from the minimum wage, such as housing or health insurance, and only with your prior consent (WorkinNL).
- Get written confirmation that you can register with the municipality at that address: without registration there is no resident BSN.
- Ask what happens to the housing if the job ends, and with how much notice.
- If you sign a residential tenancy agreement, the deposit is at most two months' basic rent (contracts from 1 July 2023, Rijksoverheid).
Common mistakes
- Accepting deductions verbally.
- Not asking about municipal registration.
- Not keeping copies of the job and housing contracts.
This guide is general and does not assess your own contract.
Official sources
- WorkinNL: employment agency
- WorkinNL: minimum wage
- Rijksoverheid: the deposit (in Dutch)
- Government of the Netherlands: when to register as a resident in the BRP
Deadlines, amounts and requirements change. Always check them with the source.
Frequently asked questions
Is it normal for the agency to provide housing?
Yes, it is common when you arrive. What matters is having the price and conditions in writing.
Can they keep my document?
They should not. Someone keeping your identity document is a warning sign.
What happens if I lose the job?
It depends on your housing contract. Get guidance as soon as possible.
Related
Employment contract: what to check before signing
What to check in a Dutch employment contract: who employs you, hourly wage, hours, collective agreement, deductions, holidays and housing.
Dutch salaries and payslips: the basics
The 2026 hourly minimum wage, gross and net, what a payslip shows, the 8% holiday pay and which deductions are allowed.
How to register with your municipality
Registering in the Dutch population register (BRP): who must do it, the deadline, what to bring and what happens when you move.
Does your case not fit? Read about personal guidance. This is general information, not legal, employment or tax advice.