Your kitchen’s been ripped out, the bathroom is a shell, and there’s dust on everything you own. At some point during a major renovation, most Dutch homeowners reach the same conclusion: we can’t live here. So what do you do next?
Why Staying Put Isn’t Always an Option
There’s a particular kind of optimism that strikes before a big renovation — the belief that you can simply “live around it.” Cook on a camping stove, shower at the gym, sleep in the one room that still has a functioning door. It’ll be an adventure.
It rarely is.
When renovation extends to structural work, full bathroom or kitchen overhauls, asbestos removal, or anything involving the roof, staying in the property ranges from deeply uncomfortable to genuinely unsafe. Dust, noise, absent plumbing, exposed wiring — these aren’t minor inconveniences. They’re disqualifying, especially for families with young children, elderly residents, or anyone working from home.
The question isn’t whether to move out. It’s how — and into what.
Temporary Rental Options in the Netherlands
If you’re a Dutch homeowner looking for temporary accommodation during a renovation, the legal ground shifted in 2024. The Fixed Rental Contracts Act (Wet vaste huurcontracten), in force since 1 July 2024, made permanent rental contracts the default. The old-style temporary leases — six or twelve months, no strings — are largely gone from standard housing. But several exceptions remain.
Exceptions That Still Allow Temporary Leases
Temporary rental contracts are still permitted in specific circumstances, including:
- Temporary housing rented out while a tenant’s own home is being demolished or renovated — which is precisely the situation we’re discussing.
- Holiday homes and purpose-built short-stay accommodation.
- Specific target groups, such as students, expats on short-term assignments, and people in urgent need of transitional housing.
If you’re renting because your home is being renovated, you may still enter a legitimate temporary lease. The contract must explicitly state the renovation as the reason for the temporary arrangement. A landlord offering a generic “temporary” contract without a qualifying reason risks having it reclassified as a permanent tenancy — a problem for both parties.
Serviced Apartments and Furnished Rentals
For renovations lasting a few weeks to several months, serviced apartments are usually the most practical option. They come fully furnished, include utilities and Wi-Fi, and offer short booking periods. Amsterdam, Rotterdam, The Hague, and Utrecht have reasonable supply, though prices are steep — expect to pay significantly more per month than a standard rental. Platforms aimed at expats and short-term residents are your best starting point, since they’re set up for exactly this kind of stay.
Co-Living and Apart-Hotels
Co-living spaces and apart-hotels offer a cheaper alternative to serviced apartments while still providing furnished, move-in-ready accommodation. They suit individuals or couples without children who need a base for a few months.
Staying With Family or Friends
The free option, and the one most likely to test even the strongest relationships if your renovation runs long. If you go this route, agree on expectations early: duration, contribution to household costs, and an exit plan. Treat it like a practical arrangement rather than an open-ended favour.
The Storage Question: Where Does Everything Go?
One of the most overlooked parts of moving out during a renovation is the volume of things that need to go somewhere. Furniture, appliances, clothing, books, the IKEA bag collection — it all has to be dealt with.
Self-Storage Units
The Netherlands has a well-developed self-storage market, with facilities in most mid-sized and large cities. Shurgard, City Box, and various local operators offer units from a few square metres to garage size. Budget roughly €75–€200 per month for a unit large enough to hold a typical apartment’s contents.
A few things to sort out before you book:
- Book early. Facilities near city centres fill quickly, especially in spring and summer — peak renovation season.
- Check your insurance. Most providers offer basic cover, but verify whether your home contents policy (inboedelverzekering) already covers items in external storage. Many do, with limits.
- Label everything. You will forget what’s in which box.
On-Site Storage Containers
If your property has a driveway, garden, or parking area, a portable container delivered to your home can be cheaper than offsite storage. You fill it at your own pace; it stays on-site or gets transported to a warehouse during the work. Useful if you need regular access to specific items during the renovation.
Check with your gemeente (municipality) about permits first. Placing a container on public land — even briefly — typically requires one, and rules vary by city.
Your Postal Address
If you move out during a renovation, two things need attention: your post and your official registration.
BRP Registration
Every resident in the Netherlands must be registered at their actual address in the Basisregistratie Personen (BRP). For short absences — generally under four months — you typically don’t need to re-register. Your home address stays current even if you’re not sleeping there. If the renovation runs longer, re-registration may be required, with knock-on effects for municipal taxes, voting rights, and benefit entitlements.
Contact your gemeente before work begins and explain the situation. Most deal with this regularly and can tell you whether a temporary re-registration is needed.
Mail Forwarding
PostNL offers a mail forwarding service (verhuisservice) that redirects your post to a temporary address. It’s cheap and takes minutes to set up online. Do it before you move out, not three weeks later when you realise you’ve missed a tax letter.
What It Will Actually Cost
The cost of not living in your home during a renovation is one of the most commonly underestimated items in any renovation budget.
The Relocation Allowance
If you’re a tenant whose landlord is carrying out major renovations, Dutch law provides a relocation allowance (verhuiskostenvergoeding), set annually on 1 March. It covers the costs of temporarily moving out and moving back in, including transport, storage, and temporary accommodation.
If you’re a homeowner renovating your own property, this doesn’t apply. The costs are yours, and they belong in your renovation budget from the start.
Budget Checklist
| Expense | Estimated Monthly Cost |
|---|---|
| Temporary rental / serviced apartment | €1,200 – €2,500+ |
| Self-storage unit | €75 – €200 |
| Mail forwarding | €15 – €30 |
| Additional commuting costs | Variable |
| Meals out (if no kitchen) | Variable |
| Pet boarding (if applicable) | €200 – €500 |
For a three-month renovation, temporary living costs can run €5,000 to €10,000 on top of the renovation itself. Budget for it upfront.
Practical Tips for the Transition
Start your housing search early. The Dutch rental market — even for short-term accommodation — is tight. Begin at least two to three months before your renovation start date, especially in a major city.
Build in a time buffer. If your contractor says the work will take eight weeks, book accommodation for ten or twelve. Ending a booking early is straightforward; extending one at the last minute usually isn’t.
Pack a first-week bag. Before everything goes into storage, set aside a bag with what you’ll need immediately: important documents, medications, chargers, a change of clothes, toiletries. Keep the coffee maker accessible.
Stay involved during the work. Even away from the site, schedule regular check-ins — ideally in person — and make sure your contractor can reach you. Decisions need to be made throughout, and delays compound when the homeowner is unreachable.
Document the property before you leave. Photos and video of the property’s condition before work begins protect you in disputes and give you a baseline for assessing the finished work. Do it the day before the contractors arrive.
Tenants Facing Landlord-Led Renovations: Know Your Rights
Dutch tenancy law gives tenants the right to remain in their home during renovations unless the work genuinely makes continued occupation impossible. If temporary relocation is necessary, the landlord must provide the statutory relocation allowance and, in many cases, arrange suitable temporary accommodation.
A landlord cannot use renovation as grounds to terminate a tenancy. Tenants have the right to object to a renovation proposal, and disputes can go before the courts. The law requires that any proposal be “reasonable,” accounting for the interests of both parties.
If you’re a tenant in this situation, get legal advice early. The Juridisch Loket (Legal Aid Centre) offers free initial consultations.
One Last Thing
Temporary living during a renovation is disruptive and expensive. It’s also finite. The Dutch housing system does offer workable solutions; the main requirement is planning ahead and budgeting honestly. Treat the logistics of your temporary move with the same attention you’d give the renovation itself — because the last thing you want, when you walk back into your renovated home, is to feel like the process cost more than it needed to.
