Netherlands' Affordable Rental Law Reduces Mid‑Rent Housing Supply

The Wet betaalbare huur, introduced in 2024 by former housing minister Hugo de Jonge, expanded the rent‑valuation points from 143 to 186 to bring more homes under a maximum rent ceiling. The policy was intended to make middle‑rent housing more affordable, but two years on the number of available middle‑rent units has fallen by roughly one‑third. Many private landlords have exited the market; Amsterdam property investor Marcel Melis sold his fifty rental units, saying, "I mainly sold to expats," and adding that "there is literally no middle‑rent housing left."

At the same time, average house prices in the Netherlands have crossed the €500,000 mark, with a typical detached home in Friesland listed at €375,000, highlighting the broader affordability challenge for families seeking to buy as well as rent.