Finding a rental home can be a challenging task, especially for first-time tenants who may be renting for the first time. Due to the large number of rental agents, private owners and a huge selection of websites, house-hunters can often no longer see the wood for the trees.
Huurzone is a platform which compiles all the rental property advertisements, both via rental agencies and private owners. This means that house-hunters have a clear overview of all offers at any given time. In addition, home seekers can respond to properties via Huurzone, after which landlords can decide whether to invite these home seekers for a viewing.
Since it can be difficult for home-seekers to find their way when using a new platform such as Huurzone, Huurzone has compiled an e-book containing all the information you need to effectively search for a home via Huurzone. We explain the basics in this text and in the e-book you can then find all details about the use of Huurzone.
To be able to use the features offered by Huurzone, you need to create a personal account. Rental Zone users can choose between a free account and a paid Premium account. The free account allows you to use a number of basic features of Huurzone, such as viewing the available homes and responding to a maximum of one property per day. However, if you, as a home- seeker, require more information about the available homes and want the opportunity to respond to an unlimited number of properties, it is best to invest in a Premium account. A Premium account costs € 19.95 per month and can be canceled at any time.
Checklist for your new home
Before you start looking for a rental property, it’s useful to determine which property characteristics your future home must have. For example, it is useful to determine what the location of the property must be, how large the property must be. The condition of the home must be determined, as well as your maximum rental allowance.
The difference between social rental properties and private rental properties
When renting a property, it is important to be aware of the difference between rental properties in the private sector and rental properties in the social sector. Social rentals are homes that are primarily intended for tenants with a low income, who would not be able to buy a house, or rent in the private sector. To keep these homes really affordable, social rental homes have a maximum rent.
As a tenant, you often have to comply with a number of rules to be eligible for a social rental. For example, you are often required to register with a housing association and you may not earn above the set income limit. Much fewer rules apply to homes in the private sector. There is no maximum rental price for the private sector and there is often no income limit for tenants.
Towns and villages near major cities
If you have a job in one of the major cities in the Netherlands, such as Utrecht, Rotterdam or Amsterdam, you would most probably like to live near your place of work. However, it can be very difficult to find a home in these cities, because the demand for housing is often high and the rental prices are also increasing. Fortunately, Huurzone also offers a wide range of rental properties in towns and villages close to the major cities. The houses in these places are often more affordable, but you still have all amenities nearby.
Secure use of Huurzone
When renting a property, it is good to be aware that you may be exposed to situations that are not completely secure, or fair. To avoid being scammed when renting a home, there are a few things you must keep in mind. For example, it is important to always view the property you wish to rent and to carefully check who the landlord of the potential property is, and whether this person or entity is trustworthy.
