Housing through a temp agency: your rights and the red flags

Is your employer required to arrange housing?

No. An employer or temp agency is not legally required to provide accommodation. If they do, strict rules apply. In the temp sector the SNF certification is moreover mandatory via the collective agreement (CAO) for the housing the agency offers.

Housing through your employer is convenient when you first arrive, but it makes you dependent: your boss is also your landlord. That is exactly why it matters to know your rights, so you are not trapped if something goes wrong at work.

What does the Wet goed verhuurderschap mean for you?

The Wet goed verhuurderschap (Good Landlord Act) has applied since 1 July 2023 and protects tenants, with several points aimed specifically at labour migrants. These are the key rules to remember.

• •Your tenancy may no longer be part of your employment contract. If you stop working you do not automatically lose your home and are entitled to a reasonable notice period.
• •You get a separate, written tenancy agreement. Ask for it if you do not have one.
• •Information about your rights and obligations must be provided in a language you understand.
• •The deposit is at most two months' base rent; double agency fees are not allowed.

What must the housing meet (SNF certification)?

For housing labour migrants in the temp sector, the certification of the Stichting Normering Flexwonen (SNF) applies. A certified agency must meet concrete requirements and is checked on them. You can check the public SNF register yourself to see whether your agency is certified.

• •At least 10 m² of living space per person in a shared home.
• •Sufficient sanitary facilities: as a guideline one toilet and one shower per eight residents.
• •Requirements for safety and fire safety, privacy and facilities.
• •Clear information about the housing and the costs.

What can be deducted from your wage for rent?

Your employer may deduct rent from your wage, but only under conditions. A maximum from the applicable collective agreement (CAO) must be respected, and you must give written consent. The housing must meet the quality standards such as the SNF certification.

Check your payslip to see exactly how much is deducted and for what. If it is wrong, or more is deducted than allowed, raise it with your employer. You can also report it to the Netherlands Labour Authority (Nederlandse Arbeidsinspectie) or seek help from a union or a support point for labour migrants.

What if you stop working or are dismissed?

This is precisely what the new law protects against. Because your tenancy and employment contracts are separate, you are not immediately on the street when your job ends. You are entitled to a reasonable period to find something else.

Use that time well. Turn on alerts for rooms in your area straight away, so you are first to respond to new listings while you still have a place to live. That makes you independent of your employer for your housing.