Housing and Accommodation. Part 1.

Names and identifying details have been changed to respect the privacy of individuals.

The only option in the Netherlands for housing accommodation is through the housing corporation and the private rental agencies. The difference is the price tag. The housing corporation is more affordable but has longer waiting time on the waiting list. You must be registered on Wonningnet for social Housing, now called DAK and you have to be active weekly on the website or App. The private rentals are with astronomical rent but faster to secure if you can afford it. I once rented an apartment paying €1800 monthly rent while I later paid €600 rent for the same size of apartment through the housing corporation which was a great relief.

When you secure an apartment after a long wait. Congratulations! Living peacefully is paramount.

A typical Amsterdam social housing neighbourhood.

ADVISE & TIPS!

·         Do not have any entanglement or quarrel with neighbours, if that is possible. You're stuck with them. You cannot easily exchange or move to another apartment.

·         Stay on your lane, mind your own business.

·         Make your rent payments your priority to avoid frictions with the housing corporation/landlord.

·         Avoid strangers in your apartment.

·         Do not rent out part of your apartment or sublet. This could get you into unnecessary issues.

·         Rent deposits and name registration on the address should be properly clarified before signing the rent contract, especially from private homeowners.

·         Invest in CCTV cameras connected to your mobile device in your apartment if you live alone for security purposes.

·         Save all your documentation for reference purposes.    

EXPERIENCES!

1.      An acquaintance once rented out a room in his apartment to an individual who happened to be keeping drugs in his room and when he was cut by the police. The apartment was confiscated from the owner, a laid down rule on the contract. He had to go back to the bottom of the waiting list and maybe wait for another 15 or more years. Don't get lured by any pressure into losing your apartment. It is a big risk. It isn’t worth the trouble.

2.      I once had maintenance issues in my apartment while my complaints to the housing corporation were not attended to for months. Bad advice was given to me by a therapist let’s call her Henna recommended to me by let’s call him Francis, a Nigerian doctor in southeast Amsterdam. Since it has been stressful coping with the defect in the apartment. She advised me to withhold my rent as a protest. She even lied to me with the assurance that her position/authority as a therapist is as good as a judge of a court of law. How naïve could anyone be to have fallen for such a lie? I almost lost the entire apartment through that action. I was taken to the court to evacuate the apartment. I came to the awareness of the law guiding rent payment. You will be evacuated after owing three months' rent. Luckily, I was given a break by the court. My rent default was only in the 2nd month. I paid my rent immediately afterwards even though the maintenance was not done despite all. I ended up with the stress of a court case plus the expenses of a legal representative.

3.      Another experience is with a neighbour who despises foreigners who kept acting like a neighbourhood cop and needs the smallest excuse to report any issue directly to the housing corporation which could lead to the termination of your rental contract on disturbances. You will rather be approached first by your neighbour. My car got

scratched by this individual, let’s call him Haiko/Dana, after a brief confrontation with him. The case was closed abruptly by the police without the repair of my car. I have to bear the damage on my own. Don’t be surprised, Criminal acts could be suppressed sometime by the authority. More regarding the integrity of any system.

4.      If you are a targeted individual, depending on your circumstances. Though unwritten rule in The Netherlands, the longer a tenant occupies an apartment, the less profitable it is for the corporation. They are not permitted to increase the rent above certain threshold of the law. A new occupant will always pay more rent than the older occupants in the same building. You could be incriminated or set up by a neighbour/handler for any violations to terminate your rent contract or keep you in maximum anxiety. Like in Screwtape letter to Wormwood, rap up the stress 10 fold in order for you to leave and to be replaced. The narrower and localised the hatred, the more direct malice to your immediate neighbour who you meet everyday than hatred for far away Donald Trump, the more damaging it is. It’s a scam.  A housing corporation once installed a hidden camera at the entrance passage on a Nigerian dude to his apartment in Groningen and presented it to court as evidence for disturbances due to frequent visits and loud noise from his apartment by his friends. However, when I was threatened by a corporation with these tactics which I believe is unlawful. It was withdrawn because I also demanded compensation for recording without my consent as privacy violation. I was not informed about renting a “Big Brother” apartment.  A Big Brother resident is usually paid enormous cash out.

5.      Living in a metropolis versus a smaller town has its pros and cons. In big cities like Amsterdam or Rotterdam, most people tend to mind their own business, and it’s easier to blend in as a newcomer—provided you are not a targeted individual. In contrast, small towns can be much less accommodating. Foreigners are often easily noticed, as the tight-knit nature of such communities makes it difficult to go unnoticed.

Small towns are often governed by unwritten rules, historical traditions, and strong core families, where rumors spread quickly. In such environments, it’s essential to stay low-key until you familiarize yourself with the local culture and dynamics.

In cities like Amsterdam Southeast (Bijlmer), where many foreigners and immigrants often reside, the choice is not solely driven by the affordable cost of living. Instead, it’s influenced by a variety of social and cultural factors that make these areas more accommodating to diverse communities.

DISCLAIMER:

This blog post reflects the author’s personal opinions and experiences. For the full disclaimer, please visit link.

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