News

The Dutch housing market is showing less extreme developments in 2026 than it did last year. Buyers are still frequently bidding above the asking price, but competition is gradually decreasing. In the first quarter of 2026, the average overbidding percentage was 4.7%, compared to 5.2% at the end of 2025. At the same time, the number of home sales fell to around 65,000 transactions, nearly 12% lower than in the previous quarter.

The Dutch government plans to adjust the rules around rental prices. Housing minister Elanor Boekholt-O’Sullivan wants to relax parts of the Wet betaalbare huur. This law was introduced in 2024 to curb high rents, but it also had an unintended effect: many private landlords sold their properties because renting became less profitable. As a result, the number of rental homes decreased.

The market is shifting. Less rush, more choice. Discover why strategy and presentation now make the difference when selling your home.

The housing market in Eindhoven has been under pressure for years. Due to the strong growth of the Brainport region, the large number of students, and international workers, the demand for affordable housing is high. At the same time, large parts of the city are designated as permit-required or even “locked” areas for room rentals.

From January 1, 2026, an important change will take effect for anyone offering overnight accommodations, including hotel rooms, holiday homes, B&Bs, guesthouses, and short-stay rentals through platforms like Airbnb or Booking.com.

The Dutch government published a letter to Parliament on November 14, 2025, announcing its intention to take measures to more clearly distinguish between regular rental and short-stay rental.

For landlords in the Eindhoven region, this is an important signal: although the rules are not yet in force, the government’s direction is clear.

As a rental agency in Eindhoven, we would like to summarize what this parliamentary letter entails, whether it is already finalized, and what landlords need to know at this stage.

A recent court ruling confirms that the temporary rental of newly built properties, in certain cases, give entitlement to a VAT refund on construction costs. This development offers real estate entrepreneurs new tax opportunities — provided it is applied with due care.

The political situation in the Netherlands is in flux. When PVV leader Geert Wilders pulled the plug on the cabinet, many questions arose about the consequences for the housing market. After 335 days, the Schoof cabinet is coming to an end. There is a strong chance that new elections will be held at the end of November. But what does this mean for the housing market? Below, we outline the main developments.