Housing FAQ & contact information

The availability of student housing in Utrecht is limited and in high demand. This makes finding housing is very difficult and time-consuming. If you plan to study at Utrecht University start your search several months in advance to your arrival, even prior to your formal admission. Although it can increase your chances if you start your search early, this is not a guarantee.

The average rent in Utrecht is higher than in most other towns and cities in the Netherlands, and may also be higher than in your home country. It is very important that you calculate a realistic budget for housing. Besides that, also be aware that there are additional costs you pay when you rent that can be substantial, such as a deposit, down payment, fees etc.

Arriving in a foreign country without having arranged a place to stay can lead to a very stressful situation. Our students tell us that it is very difficult to keep putting time and effort into their search for housing once they have started their studies. Ultimately, it is up to you to decide but this is not a process we desire our students to go through. We therefore advise you to reconsider your enrolment if you haven’t found housing on time before the start of your studies in Utrecht. Please note that our education is on-campus by default and your attendance is required. That is why it is not possible to do your exchange online from abroad.

If you decide to cancel your exchange there are various matters that you need to look into. Please contact your Utrecht University exchange coordinator to cancel your exchange and, if applicable, your visa. Contact information can be found here. Also inform your home university if you decide to cancel your exchange.

Unlike to what you might be used to, Dutch universities do not own student housing. As a student, you yourself are responsible for arranging your housing. Utrecht University does not have the capacity to match students with listings on the private market, nor can we find housing on your behalf. We do aim to inform you best we can about housing and provide the information that may help you during your search.

For new international students who meet the conditions, Utrecht University offers a Reserved Accommodation Programme for new international students, but this is limited. If you do not manage to reserve housing this way, or if you are not eligible to apply, you have to find housing on your own.

No, it is not necessarily easier to search for housing while you are in Utrecht. Instead, it can lead to a very stressful situation if you arrive without housing. It is also very difficult to keep putting time and effort into your search once you started your studies. We therefore advise you to reconsider your enrolment if you have not found housing before the start of your studies in Utrecht.

There is a shortage of all types of housing in the Netherlands. For housing offers that are suitable for more than one tenant (such as family housing and apartments), landlords usually prefer a working couple over students as tenants. Most student housing offers therefore come on the market for one tenant only. Besides that, house or flat sharing as a group is not always allowed due to local regulations. Because of these reasons searching with a group or as a pair rarely works out.

There are no no-go areas in Utrecht. Students live all over the city and in surrounding towns as well. It is also not advised to focus on just some areas - as this decreases your chances of finding a place. Instead, include all areas and also search in surrounding towns like Zeist, Maarssen, Houten, Nieuwegein, De Bilt, Bilthoven etc. to increase your chances.

Some people try to take advantage of the high demand for housing and aim to scam you with a fake offer. Learn more on how to recognise a scam and which safety measures to take into account when you search for housing online.

Are you in doubt about the reliability of an offer? Feel free to contact us for advice. Kindly send us an e-mail via studentservices@uu.nl with any information you have about the offer, such as a link to the ad, address, any photos, size, rent, contact you have had with the advertiser etc.

On our website you can learn more on how to recognise a scam and which safety measures to take into account. If you still have doubts about the reliability of an offer you are always welcome to contact us for advice via StudentServices@uu.nl. Make sure to include as much information as possible about the ad, landlord or advertiser, any photos, and the accommodation when you contact us.

If you were unable to attend the housing webinar, would like to watch again or are generally interested in finding housing, you can find recordings of our housing webinars on our Housing Webinars page.

You may have a question about your rental contract or tenant rights. Utrecht University is not liable to provide legal advice about this. There are, however, several organisations that provide free legal support to students on Housing related matters:
 

• Vidius Utrecht (closed July until September)
  Vidius Utrecht is a student run organisation that provides free legal assistance to students. For up to date contact information please see the Vidius website.
   
• Rechtswinkel Utrecht
  Rechtswinkel Utrecht is a student run organisation that provides free legal advice about various matters. For up to date contact info please see the Rechtswinkel website.
   
• Dutch Student Union
  The Dutch Student Union offers a helpline that aims to answer any legal questions or problems. For up to date contact information please see the LSVb website.
   
• Utrecht municipality
  The Utrecht municipality offers free advice and help if you have issues regarding maintenance, your service costs and/or rent, or if you are facing intimidation by your landlord. For up to date information, please visit the municipality website.
   
• Huurcommissie (Rent Tribunal)
  The Rent Tribunal (Huurcommissie) provides assistance to tenants and landlords when they disagree, for example, about the rent price, maintenance, or service charges. They assess the dispute on the basis of laws and regulations and issue a ruling that both parties are required to comply with.

It is possible to have your rent (re)assessed even after you have come to an agreement with a landlord. Huurteam Utrecht can help you with your case or you can ask them for more information about the procedures. For up to date contact information please see the website of Huurteam Utrecht 

If you are staying for more than four months in the Netherlands, you are legally required to go to the city council and register as a new resident. This is a mandatory procedure irrespective of your nationality or purpose of stay. Not all landlords allow registration. This may be, for example, because they do not have the correct permit to rent out the accommodation.

City registration and health care

You require a registration with the municipality on a legal address, documented by a proof of tenancy such as a rental agreement, for access to health care, a General Physician, and the Dutch vaccination programme. Because of this it is very important to search for legal housing where registration is possible. Click here for more information on the importance of City Registration.